HC Deb 22 January 1947 vol 432 cc53-4W
100. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to what class of industry the 60 plants scheduled to be dismantled in the British zone of Germany belong; how they differ from the 647 factories recently stated by the Regional Commissioner at Düsseldorf to be surplus to Germany's peacetime economy as laid down by the Potsdam Agreement; and what steps have actually been taken regarding both categories of enterprise.

Mr. J. Hynd

In the British zone of Germany as a whole 440 plants were declared available as reparations. The 60 plants are those already allocated to the Allied nations and therefore scheduled for dismantling For their classification I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies which I gave to my hon. Friend, the Member for Sunderland (Mr. F. Willey), the hon. Member for North Dorset (Mr. Byers) on 18th December The 647 factories referred to by the Regional Commissioner at Düsseldorf are those in the North Rhine Westphalia Region provisionally listed for consideration as surplus to Germany's peacetime requirements, under the present level of industry plan. No further steps have yet been taken except in the case of those plants which form part of the 60 already scheduled for dismantling or of the further 380 declared available as reparations.