§ 88. Mr. R. McNEILLasked the President of the Board of Agriculture whether German prisoners employed on the land in Essex are being paid 2s. 6d. per day, and in the case of skilled workers 3s. 6d. per day; if he will say how these wages compare with the pay of British privates in the Army, to whose sacrifices and exertions the supply of prisoner labourers is due; and if he can say whether prisoners of war in Germany are being paid at a higher rate of wages and are being maintained in greater comfort than the average native inhabitants of the districts in which they are imprisoned?
§ Sir RICHARD WINFREYGerman prisoners are not being paid the rates named in the question, which are those paid to the military authorities by the employers of the prisoners. The majority of the prisoners receive payment at the rate of 1d. per hour, but that rate may be increased to 1½d. in cases where the prisoner shows special merit, or reduced to ¾d., or even ½d. per hour, in cases where the work done is not satisfactory.