asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what progress has been made towards nationalising heavy industries in the Ruhr.

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Bexley (Major Bramall) on 4th December. I hope to be able to make a further announcement in the near future.

In order to obviate the necessity of an unsuccessful attempt to catch your eye later on, Mr. Speaker, may I ask my hon. Friend whether he can say if the merging of the British and the American zones is proving a hindrance to the Government's publicly declared policy?

In no way whatever.

Would the hon. Gentleman not agree that we want to be very careful in forcing on Germany any political persuasion at all?