§ 39. Mr. Ellis Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has about the German Steel Trustee Association, the form of management, the number of concerns in the association, the names of directors, the amount of steel that is to be manufactured and, in the whole of Germany, the use of the steel; and if the steel manufactured will be allowed to enter the world market.
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§ Mr. BevinThe German Steel Trustee Association has not yet been set up. When formed it will not have the character, composition or functions which are implied in my hon. Friend's Question. It will be responsible primarily for holding in trust the assets of those concerns in the German iron and steel industry which are subject to decartelisation. It will, however, be required to submit plans for the reorganisation of the iron and steel industry. Therefore it will not be an association of steel concerns, nor will it have responsibility for management or for production, or use of steel in Germany or for the participation of Germany in the world steel market.
The Association will consist of twelve German nationals appointed by or under the authority of Military Government. Nominations for these appointments have been made by the German iron and steel industry, the Federation of Trade Unions, the Institution of Public Accountants and the Association of Law Societies.
With regard to the question of the amount of steel that is to be manufactured, the level of steel production to be permitted to Western Germany is 11.1 million tons per annum. It is calculated that this will be adequate for the requirements of Western Germany, including, of course, its requirements for the manufacture of goods for export. There is no prohibition on the export of either raw steel or finished steel, within this production level and no such prohibition is contemplated.