HC Deb 21 December 1964 vol 704 cc182-3W
74. Sir T. Beamish

asked the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make representations to the Federal German Government that the legislation recently enacted by that Government on compensation for refugees persecuted on grounds of nationality does not adequately fulfil the obligations entered into by the Federal Republic in the Convention on the Settlement of Matters arising out of the War and the Occupation, signed at Bonn on 26th May, 1952.

Mr. George Thomson

No legislation to provide compensation for refugees persecuted on grounds of nationality has recently been enacted in the Federal Republic of Germany. Draft legislation dealing with this question, among others, is however before the Federal Parliament and is now being considered by the Restitution Committee of the Bundestag. We have subjected this draft legislation to careful examination in the light of the provisions of the Convention on the Settlement of Matters arising out of the War and the Occupation, and its progress will be followed with close attention. But our present view is that representations of the kind described by the hon. and gallant Member would not be appropriate.