§ Mr. WISEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Reparation Committee has a lien on all the gold or bullion deposited with the German Republic; and if the German Republic has sent any gold or bullion recently to the Bank of England?
Mr. YOUNGThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative, except in so far as the gold or bullion referred to is an asset of the German Empire. Under Article 248 of the Treaty of Versailles the cost of reparation and other costs under the Treaty are a first charge upon all assets and revenues of the German Empire, subject to such exceptions as the Reparation Commission may approve. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer 403W gave to a similar question asked by him on the 24th ultimo.
§ Mr. KILEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount collected by His Majesty's Customs on goods arriving from Germany under the heading of reparation duty for the year ending 31st December; can he give any idea as to the cost entailed to his Department by this collection; and is he aware that in order to effect the payment and clearance of many small consignments, involving a payment of a few shillings, agents have to be employed whose charges are often much in excess of the reparation duty?
Mr. YOUNGThe total amount collected under the German Reparation (Recovery) Act from the 1st April, 1921 (when the Act came into force), to the 31st December, 1921, inclusive, was £2,241,098. The general work of collecting the levy is merged in the ordinary-duties of the Customs and Excise staff, and it would not be possible to frame an estimate of the cost to the Department of this particular item of work. As regards the last part of the question, the hon. Member will understand that I have no control over the charges made by shipping agents to importers.