§ 13 and 14. Mr. Haleasked the Lord Privy Seal (1) what was the date of the appointment of the British member to fill the vacancy on the mixed committee dealing with the dispersal of German industry; and what was the date of the most recent meeting of the Committee;
(2) what progress has now been achieved in the deconcentration of the assets of Alfried Krupp, in accordance with High Commission Law No. 27, announced to the House on 4th March, 1953.
§ Mr. HeathThe new British member of the mixed committee (Sir Sydney Littlewood) was appointed in December, 1961. The mixed committee met on 13th January and granted Herr Krupp an extension of six months, until 31st July, for the disposal of his remaining coal and steel assets.
§ Mr. HaleIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this is no longer a question of the character of Herr Krupp but that it is a question of the character of the Bonn Government and of Her Majesty's Ministers? Undertaking after undertaking has been given to the House and we have now reached a stage at which these things are said with a snigger. We have certainly reached a stage at which Ministers come to the 495 House and make statements with their tongues in their cheeks, conveying the impression that no one has any intention of carrying this out. Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that some of us who have seen the vision of a United Europe and who supported it are not very anxious to go into a Common Market dominated by Alfred Krupp, Marshal Juin and General Salan?
§ Mr. HeathThe hon. Member has no justification for the sort of accusations which he made against Ministers in this matter. The mixed committee was set up to examine the position and to see whether the undertakings given in the Bonn Convention were being properly observed. On each occasion the mixed committee has recommended that the time period be extended. This happened in January of this year. The mixed committee is an independent body which is giving its own judgment about this matter.
§ Mr. SpeakerMr. Biggs-Davison.
§ Mr. HaleOn a point of order. The Minister asked for the permission of the House to answer two quite separate Questions together, admittedly dealing with the same matter, but one about deconcentration and the other about the mixed committee. I have asked a supplementary question about the appointment of the mixed committee and I want to ask the reasons for saying that deconcentration is to be postponed, and whether any reasons were given. That arises out of the other Question.
§ Mr. SpeakerIf the hon. Member will forgive my saying so, it was one Answer. I do not desire to be critical in any way, but I was not very happy about the progress which we were making with Questions in general and with that Question in particular, and it was for that reason that I called the next question.