§ 42. Sir A. Knoxasked the Secretary of State for War the number of German prisoners of war who have escaped from camps in Britain.
§ Sir J. GriggThe number is 420. Four of these are at large now.
§ Sir A. KnoxIs my right hon. Friend satisfied that the organisation is as good as it ought to be? Are the Commandants properly selected? Is there any system of inspection of these camps?
§ Sir J. GriggYes, Sir, I am satisfied with the organisation, but what I am not satisfied with is the availability of manpower. Obviously I could guarantee a very great reduction in the number of these escapes if two conditions were fulfilled. One is that we should have a lot more man-power to spare to guard the camps, and the other is that the conditions under which German prisoners work should be tightened up. The hon. and 628 gallant Member just two minutes ago pressed me to make more German prisoners available for work.
§ Sir A. KnoxDoes the Minister realise that my Question was, how many escapes there were from the camps?
§ Sir J. GriggThe answer given covers escapes altogether. Obviously, if people are out of the camps all day, opportunities for making escapes are very much greater.
§ Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas MooreIs not the Minister aware.that his Financial Secretary indicated in the House some weeks ago that a special inquiry had been set up to find out why recent escapes had taken place, and he said that a report would be made?
§ Sir J. GriggTo the best of my recollection, the answer was given not some weeks ago, but some days ago, and it concerned a rather large escape at one particular camp.