§ 23. Mr. Millanasked the Lord Privy Seal what progress has been made under the 1953 deconcentration plan for the disposal of the coal and steel assets of Alfried Krupp; and whether he will make representations to the West German Government about the enforcement of the plan.
§ 25. Mr. Haleasked the Lord Privy Seal if he will now make a statement on progress made with the deconcentration of German industry required by Allied High Commission Law No. 27, as announced to the House on 4th March, 1953.
§ Mr. HeathI would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Leicester, North-West (Sir B. Janner) on 22nd November. The answer to the second part of the Question of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Craigton (Mr. Millan) is "No, Sir."
§ Mr. MillanHas the Lord Privy Seal read Press reports of the deplorable speeches made by Dr. Erhard, among others, at Krupps's 150th anniversary celebrations the other day? Is it not perfectly clear from those speeches that the West German Government does 435 not intend to fulfil its obligations which it took over under the Bonn Convention? Will he make the strongest possible representations to the West German Government and let it know that at least the British Government still take those obligations seriously?
§ Mr. HeathYes, Sir. The obligations remain and so does the machinery for the Committee to examine and report upon it annually.
§ Mr. HaleWith regard to the machinery, is it not a fact that the British Government have not yet appointed their member on the Mixed Committee which is due to consider this matter on 31st January? After eight years, is it not the inescapable conclusion either that Ministers have deliberately deceived the House, or that the Germans have been deliberately deceiving the Ministers—or both? That being so, will the right hon. Gentleman say whether he now proposes that we should enter the European Economic Community while this convicted war criminal, who employed 12,000 slaves, remains the dominant economic figure in Europe?
§ Mr. HeathThe British Government are now in the process of making a fresh appointment to the Mixed Committee because of the unfortunate death of their former representative. The other two questions are completely separate.
§ Mr. HealeyCan the Lord Privy Seal assure the House that Her Majesty's Government will not support any proposal which may be made for dissolving the Mixed Committee, and that if they change their mind on this matter, they will not do so without first informing the House?
§ Mr. HeathThat is a matter which affects the other three Powers who are involved in the Mixed Committee, and we should consider this matter in consultation with them. Of course we should expect to keep hon. Members informed of matters of such importance.