HC Deb 29 April 1952 vol 499 c70W
86. Mr. Teeling

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider compensating British Royal Air Force and other prisoners of Germany, who were maltreated, or the widows and dependants of those who were murdered, out of funds which may be paid as the result of the negotiations with Germany concerning pre-war debt compensation; or, if not, whether he will assure the negotiators for the other countries at the present conference that the moneys allocated to Great Britain to pay off pre-war debts will not be confiscated to set against moneys claimed for war damage.

Mr. R. A. Butler

These negotiations were for the purpose of arriving at a basis for the settlement of Germany's external pre-war indebtedness to private and Governmental creditors, the former being much the greater. Payments in respect of these old debts are not compensation and no question arises of their diversion to either of the purposes that the hon. Member has in mind.