§ 35. Dr. Littleasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is satisfied that British prisoners of war in Germany are receiving food and attention equivalent to what the German prisoners receive in this country; and, if not, whether he will take steps to have this set right?
§ Mr. SandysUnder the Geneva Convention the obligation of the detaining Power is to give prisoners of war a food ration equivalent to that of its own depot troops. No information is yet available as to the scale of rations of depot troops in Ger many, but they are undoubtedly lower than the corresponding scales in this country. As regards the treatment ac corded to our prisoners generally, conditions vary very much from camp to camp. The reports from the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee are very carefully examined and immediate representations are made whenever they disclose that the German Government are failing to fulfil their obligations under the Convention. My hon. Friend will, however, appreciate that the steps which His Majesty's Government ran take in this matter are necessarily limited.
§ Dr. LittleI should like to know whether the War Office will keep this matter under the closest possible notice?
§ Mr. SandysI can assure my hon. Friend that we watch this matter very closely. We analyse diet sheets whenever we receive them, and there is no delay whatever in making representations when we notice deficiencies in rations or other matters requiring protest.
§ Sir W. DavisonIs it a fact that we have lodged through the Protecting Power a protest as to the insufficiency of food being provided for our prisoners of war in the last month or so? What has been the result of representations made in this matter by the Protecting Power?
§ Mr. SandysWe have made a very large number of protests about a large number of different questions connected with our prisoners in Germany. If my hon. Friend wishes to have a detailed answer, perhaps he would put a Question on the Order Paper.