BRITISH PRISONERS OF WAR

HC Deb 16 February 1943 vol 386 cc1572-3

10. Professor A. V. Hill

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that in an Italian camp, of which he has been informed, the sum of 21.60 lire per diem is being deducted from the pay of British prisoners of war on the ground that the Italians are alleged to have heard, through the Protecting Power, that similar deductions are made in Britain from the pay of Italian officer prisoners as charge for board and lodging; and whether he will make appropriate representations through the Protecting Power?

Sir J. Grigg

I had not heard of the charges at the camp in question until my hon. Friend told me, and I will certainly have appropriate representations made to the Italian Government.

Professor Hill

Does my right hon. Friend realise that the officers and men of this camp are almost without clothes, in spite of the winter, that they have barely enough food to maintain life, and that their relatives get practically no letters from them? Will he see that the Protecting Power is fully informed of the situation?

Sir J. Grigg

As I have said, I have not heard the charges about the camp in question, but I will have representations made to the Italian Government.

65. Mr. Hewlett

asked the Postmaster-General whether he can make any statement on the curtailment of air mails to prisoners of war in Germany?

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Grimston)

The recent exclusion of everything but letter cards from the all air service to prisoners of war in Germany was necessitated by a notification from the German postal authorities that the German Air Corporation would in future be-able to carry only a limited amount of prisoner of war mail. I am glad, however, to be able to inform my hon. Friend that a further notification has since been received which, in effect, cancels, the previous one and restores the former arrangements whereby all letters to our prisoners of war in Germany are normally carried beyond Lisbon by air. The advice given to relatives to ration the letters they write to prisoners of war to one a week nevertheless remains of the utmost importance, because the unlimited use of the letter service leads to delay in censorship and to a consequential adverse effect on the service generally.