§ 29. Mr. Keelingasked the Secretary of State for War what arrangements have been made in consultation with the Red Cross and Order of St. John, for the 438 despatch of parcels to British Navy, Army and Air Force prisoners of war in Germany?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaThe British Red Cross Society and Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in consultation with the Government Departments concerned, have set up a Prisoners of War, Wounded and Missing Department, whose address is The Lord Chamberlain's Office, St. James's Palace, London, S.W.1. This organisation is the accredited authority for packing and despatching parcels to British prisoners of war, a humanitarian service the value of which I am sure is gratefully and widely recognised. I understand that the Department has already started sending parcels at regular intervals and that it will shortly issue instructions for the guidance of the public regarding the packing and despatch of parcels. Arrangements will be made whereby these instructions, together with instructions about correspondence, will be brought to the notice of the next of kin of each prisoner of war when his arrival at a prisoner of war camp is notified.
§ Mr. KeelingMay I ask my right hon. Friend whether we are to understand that the War Office accepts responsibility for the care of prisoners of war in Germany of all three Services?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have answered that the British Red Cross and the Order of St. John of Jerusalem in consultation with the Government Departments concerned, have set up a Prisoners of War and Wounded Department, the address of which I gave.