§ Mr. Sharpasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reduction there has been during 1948 in the number of railway wagons owed by the U.S.S.R. to the British and American zones of Germany; how many are now outstanding; and whether there has been any recent assurance that they will he returned.
§ Mr. MayhewThe Soviet zone nett wagon debt to the bizone has fallen by 2,000 wagons since December, 1947. At the present time the Soviet zone owes the bizone at nett total of 3,788 wagons. No recent assurance has been given by the Soviet authorities that wagons owing to the bizone will be returned: on the contrary Soviet transport authorities contend that interzonal wagon records are inaccurate and that the Soviet zone does not owe wagons to the bizone.