35. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate amount of the West German post-war debt to the United Kingdom in December, 1951, and December, 1956, respectively.
§ Mr. BirchIn December, 1951, the amount of the United Kingdom claim for post-war economic assistance to West Germany was £201.8 million. Under an agreement with the Federal Republic, signed in February, 1953, the United Kingdom accepted as full and final discharge of the debt the payment of £150 million. In December, 1956, the amount of the debt was £120 million.
Mr. WilsonSince no Conservative Member was more critical about what used to he called unrequited exports when we on this side of the House were in office than was the right hon. Gentleman himself, and since these were unrequited exports at the time, will the right hon. Gentleman, quite fairly, now pay a tribute to the fact that this Government have been happily living on the proceeds of these unrequited exports in our E.P.U. settlement for many years; and, further, will he recognise that the instalment of Adenauer aid and which the Government have accepted of £75 million would not have been possible but for the surplus we had in our trading relations with West Germany during the period of the Labour Government?
§ Mr. BirchThat raises a great many questions. No one was more critical of the policy initiated in Germany when these debts were incurred than I was, if I may say so.