§ Mr. Warbeyasked the Secretary of State for War the estimated value of the local procurements made by the British Armed Forces in Austria since 1st July, 1945; what proportion of this amount is accounted for by procurements of foodstuffs; and what financial arrangements have been made with the Austrian authorities with a view to offsetting the value of these procurements against British claims for occupation costs and.or reparations.
§ Mr. LawsonI regret I have no estimate of the value of all local procurements in Austria by the British Forces. Only in very exceptional cases are foodstuffs obtained locally and the total value of them, mainly hospital supplies, is not more than one or two thousand pounds. No special financial arrangements have been made with the Austrian authorities but the cost of all local procurement ranks as part of the costs of occupation.