§ 20. Mr. Silkinasked the Secretary of State for War whether he now has any information about British prisoners of war in Campo P.G. 154; where this camp is situated; why prisoners of war at this camp are not able to communicate with their relatives and friends at home; and whether he can make any statement as to conditions at this camp?
§ Mr. A. HendersonCampo P.G. 154 was an Italian camp for British prisoners of war, situated in Benghazi: the occupants were removed by the Italian authorites before the arrival of the British 8th Army. My right hon. Friend referred to the lack of information about the subsequent movements of some of these prisoners in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Bellenger) on 25th May last, and I regret there is nothing I can add to the statement made on that occasion.
§ Mr. SilkinIs my hon. and learned Friend aware that, in one particular case, nothing has been heard from these prisoners of war since last October? Ought he not to take steps to find out what has happened?
§ Mr. HendersonWe have done so. That is exactly what we have been trying to do. I am afraid that an explanation may be found in the fact that a ship on which a number of these prisoners of war were being transported was sunk.
§ 42. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make any further statement on conditions in Campo P.G. 21; and whether British prisoners are still detained in this camp?
§ Mr. HendersonA further visit to Camp No. 21 was made by a representative of the Protecting Power on 12th April, 1943. The report of the visit discloses that the representations to the Italian Government referred to by my right hon. Friend have had no effect, and that the conditions are 997 deteriorating. The Protecting Power have therefore been requested to inform the Italian Government that unless radical improvements are immediately made, His Majesty's Government must insist upon the closure of the camp. So far as is known, British prisoners of war are still detained there.
§ Mr. DribergIs the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that exactly a month after that visit by the Protecting Power his right hon. Friend told me in this House that conditions in that camp were generally satisfactory? Is it really necessary for telegraphic reports from the Protecting Power to take over a month to reach the War Office?
§ Mr. HendersonThe visit may certainly have been made a month before my right hon. Friend made his statement, but it does not follow that a report was received before my right hon. Friend made that statement.
§ Mr. DribergCannot such reports be hurried up, in view of the urgent anxiety felt by the relatives of prisoners?
§ Mr. HendersonMy hon. Friend will realise that, if I may say so, there is a war on, and communications are not quite as effective as they are in normal times.