§ 60. Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division), if he is now in a position to state the exact rations in respect of meat, bread, and sugar given to the civilian and military German prisoners of war in this country?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)The weekly ration for both military and civilian prisoners is 63 ozs. bread, 30 ozs. meat, and 7 ozs. sugar. For those doing hard work there is an extra daily allowance of 4 ozs. bread, but no extra allowance of meat or sugar. The new scale including the allowance has been approved by the Food Controller.
§ 61. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether the money advanced to the needy British prisoners at Ruhleben is given on condition that it will be repaid at the earliest opportunity; whether the money spent in the medical treatment of needy invalids at Dr. Weiler's sanatorium in Berlin is also advanced on condition of its repayment; and, if the Government 33 attaches military importance to the continued detention of the civilians at Ruhleben, whether it will in future make unconditional advances for the aforementioned purposes?
§ Mr. HOPENeedy British prisoners are not required to repay funds advanced to them by His Majesty's Government. The whole question of the repayment of such advances is being considered.
§ Mr. HARDYWith reference to the last paragraph, may I ask whether the Government really attach military importance to the condition of the civilians there?
§ Mr. HOPEThe Government certainly does not desire nor do they attach military importance, to the detention of civilians at Ruhleben for its own sake, but they have been unwilling to comply with the impossible conditions which hitherto the German Government have attached to any suggestions for their release.
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSMay I ask with which member of the Government does the decision really rest, the Foreign Office or the War Office?
§ Mr. JOYNSON-HICKSThe War Cabinet?
§ 62. Colonel Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, in view of the absence of proof that misappropriation of articles sent to prisoners in Germany prevails to a considerable degree, he will take steps to remove the prohibition of such necessary articles as blankets and sleeping suits, which prohibition inflicts hardship upon British prisoners, both civilian and military?
§ Mr. HOPEThis matter has lately been reconsidered by the War Office, but they regret that they cannot see their way to alter the decision already come to. The question of sleeping suits for civilian prisoners has, however, arisen afresh and is being considered.