§ 49. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Prime Minister whether the recent decision of His Majesty's Government that the War Office would in future be responsible for the exchange, repatriation, and internment of prisoners of war affects the powers of Lord Newton's Interdepartmental Committee set up by the Secretary of State for the Home Department; and whether the latter body still controls the policy concerning these matters?
§ The PRIME MINISTERLord Newton's Committee has never controlled policy in these matters. Large questions of policy are in the last resort determined by the War Committee, which in regard to prisoners of war acts on the view that military considerations, of which military or naval authorities are the proper judges, should predominate. The question of prisoners is a complicated one which, from the nature of the case, cannot be confined to any one Department.
§ Mr. MALCOLMCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether Lord Newton's Committee is still in existence?
§ The PRIME MINISTERYes.
§ Mr. MALCOLMFor what purpose?
§ The PRIME MINISTERFor all the purposes except those which have been specially referred to the War Office.
§ Sir E. CARSONWhat Minister will answer questions on this subject?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThere is another question on the Paper.
§ 61. Mr. MALCOLMasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that during the past fortnight four of His Majesty's Ministers have been answering questions connected with prisoners of war; and what steps are being taken to fulfil the promise that one member of the Government would answer all such questions?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI was not aware of the occurrence mentioned in the first part of the question, and am sorry to hear of it. Steps are being taken to fulfil this promise, and such questions will in future be answered by my hon Friend the Treasurer of the Household.
§ Mr. MALCOLMDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that prisoner questions addressed to the War Office side or to the Foreign Office side will be answered by the Treasurer of the Household?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe only exception is that questions in regard to the administration of civil internment camps in this country will continue to be addressed to the Home Office.