§ 12. Lieut.-Colonel Liptonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the Government plan to cut Government 1598 spending by £100 million makes allowance for increases in current cost of maintaining British forces in Germany.
§ 14. Mr. Zilliacusasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the proposal to save £100 million on the Estimates, allows for the recovery from the German Government of some or all of the costs of maintaining British forces in Germany.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanAs explained in the Statement on Defence, 1956, the current Estimates, to which the new economy drive relates, assume the receipt of £50 million from the Federal German Government. Negotiations with that Government on the payment of support costs after 6th May, 1956, are now in progress and I cannot anticipate their outcome.
§ Lieut.-Colonel LiptonIs it not clear that if the Germans stand on the strict letter of the Paris Agreements, at least £50 million of the Chancellor's bonds has gone down the drain already? What will he do about that?
§ Mr. MacmillanThat is a very unwise supplementary question in view of the fact that these negotiations are now proceeding.
§ Mr. FernyhoughIn view of the fact that in addition to probably not paying anything towards the cost of our four divisions, the German Government have now decided that all British Service men living in requisitioned property may have to get out by 1st May, would the Chancellor not agree that this will be an added burden?
§ Mr. MacmillanAll these matters are now the subject of negotiation, and I must adhere to my reply that I do not propose to make a statement while these negotiations are in progress.