§ 17. Mr. Youngerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he is making with a view to ensuring that the revised text of the Restitutions Law of the Federal Republic of Germany adequately implements the undertaking given by the Federal Republic in the Bonn Agreements to compensate those who were persecuted by the Nazis on account of nationality.
§ Mr. NuttingHer Majesty's Government count on the Federal German Republic to fulfil its obligation under the Bonn Settlement Convention to provide adequate compensation for persons who were persecuted during the Nazi rágime on grounds of nationality. The Bill incorporating the revised text of the Federal Compensation Law of 1953 does not appear to fulfil this obligation, and further representations in this sense have been made to the Federal German authorities by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Bonn.
§ Mr. YoungerWhilst thanking the right hon. Gentleman for that sympathetic reply, may I ask him whether he is aware that the attitude of the German courts so far in implementing this quite clear obligation to a small but deserving group of people has been very disappointing indeed, that the new draft appears to be equally disappointing, and that he would be doing a great service if he could persuade the German Federal Government that to revise this text would do a great deal for their reputation?
§ Mr. NuttingWe shall continue to do what we can in this respect. I would 563 remind the right hon. Gentleman that the final reading of this Bill in the Upper House of the German Parliament takes place this month, and we hope that it will be suitably amended in the sense which he and the Government desire.