If this were tobe considered a form of war damage, then in principle it would besubjectto reparation except that according to the 1990 treaty, Germany would not have to pay it.
However, on BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Mr Cable warned that serious damage would be done to industry if only certain government departments were subjectto spending cuts.
"I do not believe it was ever the intention of those who created the human rights framework that we are currently subjectto, that people who have an avowed intent todamage this country should be able to use human rights laws to prevent their deportation back to their country of origin, " he added.