§ 11. Sir CHARLES HOBHOUSEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether interned German civilian prisoners are being trained in the Isle of Man or elsewhere in the manufacture of brushes; whether the products of their manufacture are used partly for the requirements of Government Departments, the remainder being sold in the open market through the agency of a firm which in pre-war days imported large quantities of German-made brushes; and, if so, what is the cost of training these interned Germans or the necessity for training them?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Mr. Brace)My hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. I would refer the right hon. Baronet to the answers which the Home Secretary gave to similar questions on 28th February and 7th March, and will only add that the firm which has assisted in arranging for the employment of the interned Germans on this work has never, as I am informed, imported German-made brushes.
§ Sir C. HOBHOUSEAm I to understand from that answer that practically denial is given to the whole statement made in the question, which was given me by a respected correspondent?
§ Sir C. HOBHOUSEDoes that mean that the hon. Gentleman is not acquainted with the facts?
§ Mr. BRACEI am acquainted with the facts, but do not want to commit myself to the extent the right hon. Gentleman would ask me.