asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a statement regarding the prospects of obtaining scrap from Germany in the next few months.

The Scrap Investigation Committee, which I appointed at the beginning of March, 1948, have submitted their preliminary report, and in the light of their recommendations measures are being taken to provide additional facilities for obtaining scrap from Germany. I hope that, as a result, we shall get increased tonnages of scrap from this source in 1948.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say if he is offering goods to the Germans which will be of use to them and will encourage them to let us have the scrap?

What we are doing is to provide greater numbers of tractors and cranes and other equipment which will enable us to bring a greater quantity of scrap to this country.

Does not the right hon. Gentleman agree that currency reform is essential before he can expect much scrap from private concerns in Germany.

Undoubtedly it would be a most important factor.