LORD SALTOUNMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government the second question that stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The question was as follows:
§ Having regard to the statement of His Majesty's Government in another place that the number of factories in the British zone which have been or are to be dismantled is seven, is it the case that Treasury sanction has been granted for the engagement by the Control Commission of more than a hundred additional staff for the purpose of dismantling factories, requisitioning machinery or similar activities?]
LORD PAKENHAMMy Lords, the recruitment of the supervisory staff has been approved in principle but has only begun, and will not be continued beyond the numbers necessary to execute our obligations. The precise number required for this purpose is still uncertain. In regard to the number of plants being dismantled, it was indicated in another place on November 20 that, while seven plants were then being dismantled, that was the latest information then available. The total number of plants allocated for distribution 994 to the Allies, on which dismantling has now begun, is nine. Others already allocated are not yet being dismantled.