§ 5. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the diet scale for the wounded prisoners at Dartford, Clapton, etc; is it on a scale much larger than that fixed by the Food Controller for our civilian population; is the medical staff consulted as to the dietary necessary for the patients; are most of the prisoners convalescent; and are those who are able doing any work or is it intended to employ them in any way?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPE (Lord of the Treasury)The dietary for wounded prisoners of war at Dartford, Clapton, and other camps cannot be fixed according to a rigid scale, as it is based upon the recommendations of the medical officers attached to the various camps in accordance with the requirements of individual patients. As soon as a convalescent prisoner is discharged from hospital he is sent to a parent camp, where he is employed on camp duties of a suitable nature till he is able to be sent to a working camp. There are at present a large number of prisoners in such camps, while practically all the rest who are available for work have been earmarked for various employments and are awaiting transfer to working camps as soon as the necessary accommodation is ready.
§ Mr. ROWLANDSCan the hon. Gentleman give us any idea of what the average-percentage of diet is compared with that of the civilian population?
§ Mr. HOPEI am afraid I cannot. It would involve intricate calculations, as the doctors prescribe quite differently for different patients.
§ 19. Major NEWMANasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the Committee representing the War Office, the Home Office, and the officer prisoners at Donington Hall has now decided on the scale of rations that under the present conditions may be deemed adequate for the officers in residence at that place?
§ Mr. HOPEI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to my reply to the question of the hon. Member for Clapham on 27th February. There is no scale of rations for officer prisoners of war, who buy and have to pay for such food as they may reasonably require. They are, however, limited in regard to the purchase of bread, meat and sugar to the amounts advocated for the civil population of the country by the Food Controller.
§ Major NEWMANWhat was the Committee appointed for? In that answer we were given to understand that a Committee was appointed to deal with the question of these officers and their food.
§ Mr. HOPEThere was no Committee appointed to deal with the question of the officers' food. There was a Committee appointed to revise the rations in accordance with the wishes of the Food Controller, and I think that is covered by the next question.
Mr. FABERBut seeing that the Leader of the House said, in answer to a question of mine the other day, that the people of this country are to economise not only in bread, meat, and sugar, but in everything, are these German officers allowed to run loose in other matters than bread, meat, and sugar, and buy what they like?
§ Mr. HOPENo. Their purchases are watched, and if they exceed in other articles undoubtedly they will be stopped. The phrase I used was, "such food as they may reasonably require." If their requirements become unreasonable, they will be dealt with.