§ 37. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent His Majesty's Government are still financing Germany's food and raw material imports.
§ Mr. BevinI presume my hon Friend has in mind supplies for Germany purchased by this country under the terms of the revised Bizonal Fusion Agreement.
By an exchange of notes dated 31st December, 1948, which His Majesty's Government will shortly lay before the House, His Majesty's Government and the United States Government have agreed that the period of operation of this Agreement shall be extended for three months until 31st March, 1949, and that during this period the contribution of food and other essential supplies and services shall be continued at the existing rate of £17½ million a year. A sum of about £1½ million also remains to be spent under undertakings in the Fusion Agreement for 1948.