§ 70. Mr. HANSONasked the Undersecretary of State for War whether the Turkish authorities refuse to allow their English officer prisoners to buy soldier's ration bread with which to satisfy their hunger on the ground that Turkish officers in our hands are not allowed this concession; whether he is aware of the price which the said officers are charged for bread, which they are compelled under these circumstances to buy in the bazaar, with the result that many officers with limited means and with a wife and family to support are reduced to great financial extremity; and whether the military or Indian authorities will take some effective step or steps to relieve this situation?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONRepresentations to the effect that British officer prisoners of war in Turkey are not allowed to purchase food at Government contract rates have recently been received, and it is known that the price of foodstuffs in Turkey is now very high. The Netherlands Minister has been authorised for some time past to supplement materially, and gratuitously, the amount paid to British officers by the Turkish authorities, but owing to the totally inadequate means of communication it is probable that this does not always reach the prisoners. The question is tinder consideration whether, in view of the continued rise in prices, the payments made by the Netherlands Minister should be increased.