§ 23. Mr. KINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an estimate has been formed recently of the total number of prisoners of war which the Germans hold; if so, whether that number can be safely published; whether any large number are being economically employed by the Germans; if so, in what capacity, to what extent, and whether they receive any pay or other advantages in return; and whether there is any evidence that Irish prisoners in the hands of the Germans have been treated differently to other British prisoners of war?
§ Mr. TENNANTFor the answer to the first two parts of the question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the right hon. Member for the South Molton Division on the 4th May. A large number of the prisoners in Germany are being employed by the Germans in capacities and with pay which were stated in an answer given by my Noble Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in an answer he gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Plymouth on the 3rd of May. In reply to the last part of the question, there is evidence that earlier in the War the Germans differentiated in favour of Irish prisoners of war, but this differentiation has, it is understood, now ceased.
§ Mr. KINGDoes not the right hon. Gentleman realise that my question refers to all prisoners of war, including those taken from our Allies? I will put the question down again and make it clear.
§ Mr. TENNANTI did not gather that it did from the question on the Paper.