asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements are being made to transport the contents of German factories allotted as-reparations.

No detailed programme for the movement of this traffic is yet available.

Will the Minister bear in mind the great strain under which German transport is suffering, due to inland water transport being impeded by the drought, and will he see that the factories are not moved if it means holding up the production of coal and holding up any measures that might get the German economy going again?

Yes, we admit there is a big problem here, but we are planning to make a detailed and careful programme so as to avoid interference with priority traffic.

Mr. Vane:

Has not the hon. Gentleman noticed in Germany the enormous number of goods trains standing idle in sidings loaded with machinery destined for one knows not where?