§ 47. Mr. Stokesasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the estimated unemployment in Germany in 1949, on the assumption that the Allied 227W plan of reducing Germany's industrial output to 55 per cent. of what it was in 1938 is carried through.
§ Mr. J. Hynd:Varying estimates have been made by the Allies of the unemployment in Germany as a whole which may arise under the recently agreed plan for the future level of German industry. The provisional British estimate for 1949 was of the order of 2½ to 3½ million out of an assumed population of 66½ million but it is not, of course, possible to forecast with any degree of accuracy what the unemployment position is likely to be in Germany so far ahead, as this will be influenced by a number of factors, including the extent to which the Germans adapt themselves to the new conditions.