§ 8. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the President of the Board of Trade if the Government will consider the possibility of using passenger vessels such as those of the Royal Mail Steam Packet Company, which are now idle, for the purpose of housing German prisoners, thereby setting free for the ordinary purposes of commerce any cargo-carrying vessels which may now be employed by the Government to accommodate such prisoners?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Dr. Macnamara)It is expected that by the middle of April all the vessels now engaged in housing alien prisoners will have been vacated, and the ships will then be released unless required for other Government services.
§ 34. Mr. MORTONasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he can now say if the supply of cured herrings to prisoners of war as part of their rations has been made; and, if so, whether the experiment has been satisfactory; and will it be extended to other camps where prisoners of war are interned?
§ Mr. TENNANTA first supply will be issued on Friday, and if the experiment proves satisfactory after a fortnight's trial, the issue will be extended to other camps.
43. Mr. NEWDEGATEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been directed to allegations as to the treatment of British prisoners by the Germans; and whether, in order to test the accuracy of such allegations, with a view to getting the same treatment meted out to British prisoners in Germany as we mete out to German prisoners in this country, he will request the Government of the United States of America to furnish a Report as to the treatment of British prisoners?
The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for FOREIGN AFFAIRS (Mr. Primrose)I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given in the House on 24th February, 2nd March, and 9th March on this subject.