§ 49. Mr. Silvermanasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that, as a result of a failure of co-ordination between the Home Office and the War Office, it is now virtually impossible for internees to receive visits, even from their lawyers on urgent business; and whether he will take steps to see that this unnecessary injustice is removed?
§ Mr. PeakeI have been asked to reply. I am sorry if the hon. Member has experienced difficulty in obtaining information regarding, or permits to visit, internees. I understand that there has been a very large number of applications for permission to visit internees on business matters, and that the Prisoners of War Department of the War Office have been endeavouring to regulate the grant of permits in accordance with the relative urgency of the requests, and, in particular, to give priority to visits to internees who are going overseas.
§ Mr. SilvermanThe hon. Gentleman really answered this Question before I asked it. I wanted to raise the point of Order why this Question was being answered by someone other than the Prime Minister, in view of the fact that for the last eight days I, personally, have been sent from one Department to another and have found nether knowing which was responsible for this matter. For that reason I put the Question down to the Prime Minister because of the lack of co-ordination between two Departments.
§ Mr. SpeakerI am not responsible for that.
§ Mr. SilvermanMay I ask a Supplementary Question, then, on the answer given? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that at the end of eight days' investigation, of the kind to which I have referred, I was told by a representative of the War Office that no permits were being given to allow internees to be seen by their legal advisers except in such cases as those under which powers of attorney had already been given or the internee was immediately proceeding overseas?
§ Mr. PeakeObviously, it is all important that internees should have an opportunity of consulting with their legal advisers. There has been a large number of applications to visit internees, and I understand that the rules laid down by the Prisoners of War Department have had to be modified on the lines of the answer I have already given. If I may explain about the lack of co-ordination referred to in the hon. Member's Question, it is, I think, partly due to the fact that the hon. Member approached the Private Secretary to the Under-Secretary of State for War on a matter in which he is professionally concerned, and a civil servant, placed in a difficult position like that, does not know if an hon. Member is approaching him as a matter of public interest or in his professional capacity. The natural inclination of a civil servant when placed in a dilemma of that kind is to pass the responsibility on to somebody else.
§ Mr. SilvermanWill the hon. Gentleman explain to the House why on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of last week he personally explained to me that permits would be granted but were ultimately refused?
§ At the end of Questions—
§ Mr. SilvermanOn a point of Order. Would I be in order to give notice now that owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply to Question No. 49, I propose to take an early opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment?