HC Deb 25 February 1943 vol 387 cc317-8W
Sir S. Reed

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the action of the Public Trustee in deciding that when British firms owe balances to enemy aliens, or aliens in occupied territories, these sums must be paid to the Public Trustee whereas, if the same British firms are owned balances, other than by the same enemy aliens, by enemy aliens in the same enemy or occupied territory, the Public Trustee has no authority to set off such sums against the balances due; and whether he will take steps to alter this practice?

Captain Waterhouse

The law requires that debts due to enemies must be paid to the Custodian of Enemy Property and preserved by him in contemplation of arrangements to be made at the conclusion of peace. It would not be consistent with this requirement, or equitable between one trader and another, if certain persons could set off debts due to them from other enemies.