HC Deb 21 September 1915 vol 74 cc299-300
8. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the considerable number of cases in which German prisoners of war in this country have escaped from their places of internment, he will take steps to ensure stricter conditions of confinement and more effective supervision of these prisoners?

Mr. TENNANT

This matter is engaging my attention.

Mr. BUTCHER

Is it not possible to restrict the spaces granted for the internment of these prisoners, and so diminish the difficulty of supervision?

Mr. TENNANT

In any changes deemed to be necessary in order to avoid these occurrences in future, that, with other considerations, would be given due attention.

Mr. SHIRLEY BENN

Will the right hon. Gentleman, at the same time, consider the advisability of fixing a certain hour of the night after which the prisoners will not be allowed to roam about the internment camps?

Mr. TENNANT

Yes; I imagine that is done already.

9. Mr. BUTCHER

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War, whether he will state the amount of the allowances made by the British Government to German prisoners of war in this country of the respective ranks of colonel, major, captain, and lieutenant, and of the allowances made by the German Government to British prisoners of war in Germany of the same ranks; whether such allowances to German prisoners of war are made wholly or in part in gold; and whether he can state whether considerable sums of gold were found on some of the escaped German prisoners and, if so, how they became possessed of such gold?

Mr. FORSTER

Medical officer prisoners get full pay in both countries. Other officer prisoners in this country are paid:—Captains and higher ranks, 4s. 6d. daily; lieutenants and 2nd lieutenants, 4s. In Germany the corresponding ranks are paid £5 and £3 a month respectively. In both countries the officers buy their own food and clothing. The pay of German officer prisoners is credited to the officer by the Camp Commandant, and the officer draws such sums as he needs up to his credit. No gold is now being issued. One of the prisoners referred to had £19 in English gold, and another about £28, made up of English, French, and American gold, which had presumably been saved or collected from other prisoners during their internment since September, 1914. Steps are being taken to prevent this in future.