§ 18. Major WHELERasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the delay by the War Office in removing the barbed wire entanglements and the filling-up of the trenches dug in valuable agricultural land, he will favourably consider the using of German prisoners of war for these purposes so that the land, which, owing to these obstacles, cannot now be cultivated, may be available for cultivation before the spring season has passed?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLPrisoners of war have been used in the removal of barbed wire entanglements and filling in of trenches since the end of March, 1919. There are now about 3,000 so employed. Prisoners of war labour for this purpose is being supplied by the War Office on the application of local military authorities, but it is only used with the concurrence of the Ministry of Labour, and only where local civilian labour is not available.
§ Major WHELERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is a great deal of delay in this matter, and that a great many orchards and valuable agricultural land cannot be got at by the farmers on account of this delay? Could the matter be expedited?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere are difficulties in other respects. There are those who wish the German prisoners to be sent out of the country for fear they take the bread out of the mouths of our own people, and I am very short of labour for tidying up after the War as well as for ordinary military needs.