§ 31. Mr. Hutchinsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is now able to give any further information with regard to British prisoners of war in Campo P.G.154, whose relatives are still without information as to their whereabouts.
§ The Secretary of State for War (Sir James Grigg)As was explained in an answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Peckham (Mr. Silkin) on 22nd June, this was an Italian camp for British prisoners of war situated in Benghazi. There is no list of the prisoners of war who were in that camp either shortly before or at the time of its final evacuation by the Italians before the capture of Benghazi. It is known that most or all of the occupants on evacuation were removed by the Italians for transfer to Europe, but repeated inquiries addressed to the Italian authorities through the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee failed to obtain particulars. Continuous efforts are made to discover what has become of the British personnel known at one time to have been prisoners of war in North Africa, of whom nothing has since been heard. Reference was made to these inquiries in answer to a Question on 6th July last by my hon. Friend the Member for Gower. Since then there has been no material addition to the amount of information available, and I regret to say that with the lapse of time the prospect of getting fresh information about individuals diminishes.
§ Mr. HutchinsonWhilst thanking my right hon. Friend for his reply, may I ask him whether he will bear in mind the anxiety which the relatives feel for these prisoners and whether he will continue to pursue such inquiries as may be possible with regard to their welfare?
§ Sir J. GriggI will certainly bear in mind the anxiety of the relatives. I have great sympathy with them and I am extremely grieved that I am not in a position to relieve their anxiety.