§ 1. Mr. Sorensenasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reports he has received respecting casualties among British prisoners of war alleged to be caused by bombing; approximately the number of such casualties; whether the Protecting Power has made representations on this matter; and whether he has any further information in regard to the deaths of prisoners in concentration camps alleged by the German Government to be due to bombing but suspected to be by execution.
§ The Minister of State (Mr. Richard Law)It is unfortunately the case that a number of British prisoners of war have lost their lives in Allied air raids on the Continent, but as the figures cannot be given with any degree of accuracy, I should prefer not to attempt an estimate. Under the German prisoner of war system there are a number of main camps to which are attached subsidiary work camps and detachments forming several thousand units scattered all over the country. Some of these camps have been or are situated near legitimate military targets in contravention of Article 9 of the Geneva Convention. All available information as to the location of prisoner of war camps is promptly passed to the Allied air forces and is used in briefing the air crews. Whenever the delegates of the Protecting Power during their periodical visits to camps have observed that our prisoners were dangerously close to a military target, they have made imme- 2348 diate complaints to the German authorities and demanded the transfer of the camp to a safer site. As soon as the details reached this country, His Majesty's Government have made strong representations to the German Government through the Protecting Power. I regret to say that in several cases the German authorities have not complied with these demands. Furthermore, as an additional precaution the German authorities have been urged to provide adequate air raid protection for our prisoners. There is no evidence to show that casualties in prisoner of war camps said to be due to bombing were in fact executions.
§ Mr. SorensenMight I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he feels that, on the whole, there has been some improvement in this matter? Has he any information more specific than that already available, regarding the political prisoners alleged to have been killed by bombing some few weeks ago; and particularly the Communist and Socialist leaders?
§ Mr. LawSir, I have no more information than I have given in reply to the Question. With regard to the first part of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary question, I certainly would not expect that this situation would get worse; I would expect an improvement in it. Air crews are very carefully briefed on this matter and, naturally, they exercise the greatest possible care.
§ Mr. SorensenMay I take it that there is no adequate evidence yet of the way in which the political leaders lost their lives?