§ 35 and 36. Mr. BUTCHERasked the Home Secretary (1) whether he will state the particulars of the rations now allowed to German and other enemy alien civilians interned in this country; whether any of these persons receive parcels of food from Germany or elsewhere; whether they are permitted to purchase or receive articles of food outside their rations and, if so, to what extent; whether he will take steps to ensure that these persons shall in no case receive foodstuffs in excess of the rations allowed to civilians of British origin in this country; (2) whether any of the German and other enemy alien civilians interned in this country pay the British Government for 1808 the food supplied to them by the Government; what is the approximate total annual cost to the Government of feeding these persons; and whether it is possible to deport to Germany such of these persons as are past military age or are women if arrangements for their exchange cannot be made?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the HOME DEPARTMENT (Sir George Cave)The dietary for civilian internment camps has been revised from time to time so as to accord with the Food Regulations for the general population. Its latest form, which I will circulate, has been settled on medical advice and approved by the Food Controller. Prisoners are allowed to receive parcels of food from enemy or neutral countries, but are not allowed to purchase in this country additional articles of food beyond certain necessary condiments and the limited amount of potatoes and herrings specified at the foot of the dietary. The prescribed rations are supplied gratis to all prisoners, but in cases where prisoners earn wages for work done by them the wages are liable to deductions towards maintenance. Owing to the varying conditions of the different camps and the constant changes in prices it is difficult to give any general representative figure for the cost of feeding the prisoners. There are no women interned as prisoners of war, and every opportunity is taken of removing from this country any male prisoner whom there is not good reason for retaining here.
§ Mr. BUTCHERWill my right hon. Friend state approximately the cost of keeping these enemy civilians in this country?
§ Sir G. CAVEI am afraid I could not do so.
§ The following is the Dietary referred to —
| CIVILIAN INTERNMENT CAMPS. | ||
| Dietary. | ||
| Bread. | 5 | ozs. |
| Biscuit | 3 | ozs. |
| Flour | ¾ | oz. |
| *Meat (fresh or frozen) | 4. | ozs. |
| Or | ||
| Meat, Preserved (tinned) | 3 | ozs. |
| †Salt-cured Herrings | 12 | ozs. |
| ‡Herrings | 8 | ozs. |
| Edible Fat | ½ | oz. |
| * On five days a week. † On two days a week. | ||
| ‡ For breakfast three days a week. |
| Tea | ¼ | oz. |
| or | ||
| Coffee | ½ | oz. |
| Sugar | 1 | oz. |
| Salt | ½ | oz. |
| Pepper (black) | ½ | oz. |
| Oatmeal | 4 | ozs. |
| Syrup or Jam | 1 | oz. |
| Split Peas or Beans or Rice | 1 | oz. |
| Potatoes | 20 | ozs. |
| Fresh Vegetables (other than Potatoes) or Fruit | 4 | ozs. |
§ Each prisoner of war employed on such work as the Government shall determine will be issued additional food, consisting of 2 ozs. of bread, 3 ozs. of biscuit, 1 oz. of cheese daily. In no other case will this additional food be given except on medical certificate.
§ Purchases from canteens not to exceed 6 ozs. of potatoes or fresh vegetables and one herring not to exceed 8 ozs. uncooked.