HC Deb 14 August 1940 vol 364 cc770-2
78. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether official representatives of the Home Office have been or are to be sent to overseas internment centres to act as liaison officers between British and Dominion Governments in respect of internees; and whether articles and cash left by internees before their departure overseas have now been forwarded to their owners?

The Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Peake)

The answer to the first part of the Question is in the negative. The War Office have sent a liaison officer to Canada, who will, it is hoped, be able to some extent to act in this capacity, both as regards prisoners of war and internees, but, having regard to the comparatively small number of internees sent to Australia, I do not think there is any necessity, at present at all events, for a liaison officer there. As regards the last part of the Question, I understand that steps have been and are being taken by the War Office in regard to this.

Mr. Sorensen

Is it not highly desirable that the Home Office, as the Department responsible for the internal management of these camps, should have a representative in Canada at least, and possibly in Australia, to try to get the camps there to correspond to the camps in this country?

Mr. Peake

We have, of course, sent very full instructions for the guidance of the Dominion Governments; and we are sending out full particulars in regard to each internee.

Mr. Sorensen

Do they make special inquiries with regard to the cash that these internees have?

79. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 22 married men internees voluntarily left the Isle of Man camp on 10th July, under a guarantee given to them that their interned wives in Port Erin would accompany them in the same convoy; whether this promise was kept; if not, whether these wives have since been sent overseas to join their husbands; whether he is aware that correspondence sent to internees five weeks ago, before they departed overseas, has not yet been acknowledged; and whether he can say what is the approximate length of time that must elapse between the despatch of correspondence and its delivery to internees in Canada?

Mr. Peake

I would refer to the answer I gave yesterday to the hon. Member for the Combined English Universities (Mr. Harvey). The married internees to whom the hon. Member refers went to Australia, not Canada, and no guarantee was given that their wives would accompany them in the same convoy. I will make inquiries as regards the points raised in the last part of the Question.

Mr. Sorensen

Could the hon. Member say when he is likely to get the information?

Mr. Peake

Arrangements have been already made for speeding up communication between the internees and their friends outside; but it is exceedingly difficult at present to give any accurate estimate of the time which it will take for a letter to go from this country to Canada, and for an answer to come back.

Miss Rathbone

Is the Minister aware that about 250 of these wives and children, who were brought to London at the request of the Home Office, are still awaiting permission to join their husbands in Australia; and can he hurry the sending of the next convoy to Australia?

Mr. Peake

I will do all I can in that respect.