HC Deb 19 February 1941 vol 369 cc133-4
11. Sir A. Knox

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, owing to the inadequacy of the censoring staff in prisoner-of-war camps in Germany, letters for prisoners are held up for several weeks, and parcels too are delayed while the censors search them; and whether he will make representations, through the International Red Cross or the protecting Power, to secure quicker delivery of parcels and letters?

The Postmaster-General (Mr. W. S. Morrison)

As regards letters for our prisoners of war in Germany, I can only refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave on this point to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 23rd January and to repeat that representations have already been made through the protecting Power in the sense suggested. There is evidence that the delays in Germany to letters from prisoners of war are being reduced. I have no evidence that parcels are inordinately delayed by censorship in Germany.

Sir A. Knox

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that a letter from a prisoner of war dated 7th January states that in his particular camp there are 20,000 letters and parcels now held up by the censor, owing to the inadequacy of the staff of the censors' Department? He says that the censors look through books to search for secret codes, cut open cheeses to find lengths of rope, and open tins to find screw-drivers.

Mr. Morrison

As regards letters, we are making representations to the protecting Power. I shall be glad if my hon. and gallant Friend will furnish me with the information he has with regard to parcels, when I will certainly look into it.