§ 29. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the offset agreement with the Federal German Government on defence costs.
§ Mr. Goronwy RobertsAs my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 13th May, we are now discussing future offset arrangements with the Federal Government. A round of 25 talks at Ministerial level took place in London on 20th May, and there will be a further round in due course.—[Vol. 783, c. 195.]
§ Mr. Dodds-ParkerHas the attention of the Minister been drawn to the proposal that defence costs should be put into a blocked account and should not enter into the ordinary balance of payments? If so, can he comment on that?
§ Mr. RobertsI would not wish to comment on that or on any point now under negotiation. Progress has been made in the I.M.F. talks here in London, and I hope that a second round, probably to be held in Bonn, will about conclude the negotiations. On the question of a blocked account, I am sure the hon. Member would not expect me to comment.
§ Mr. HooleyWill my right hon. Friend resist any suggestions which would conceal from this House and the taxpayer the true costs of our military commitment in Germany?
§ Mr. RobertsI think the full facts of the costs, military and otherwise, are pretty well known to the House.