§ 45. Mr. Peter Freemanasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many prisoners are now awaiting trial in the British zone in Austria without any charge being preferred against them; how many have been waiting over three and six months, respectively; how many judges are trying such prisoners; and how many there were fulfilling the same functions before the war.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)The only prisoners held without a charge preferred against them are some 7,000 dangerous Nazis and security suspects, most of whom have been held for more than six months; whether or not they are eventually tried will depend upon the outcome of the Nuremberg trials. Some 6,500 persons who have been charged with criminal offences are held in custody pending their trial in the Austrian courts. Of these approximately 1,100 have been held for more than three months and about 40 for more than six months. Seventy-two full time judges and 66 part-time judges are engaged in trying these cases, as against 102 and 99 respectively before the war
§ Mr. FreemanDoes this not indicate a very large number of prisoners held without trial or even charges preferred against them? Could not the hon. Gentleman consider these cases on their merits, irrespective of the Nuremburg trials, and that those not associated in any way with Nazi activities should be considered and tried on their merits?
§ Mr. HyndIn reply to the latter part of that question, those not in any way associated with Nazi activities and not guilty of any social crime under Austrian law, will not be held for trial. In regard to the other categories, I can assure the House that this is one of our biggest headaches, and it is a tremendous task to keep control of these people. Unfortunately, it is a necessary thing. But, in so far as it is within the security possibility, we are taking every possible step to reduce these numbers.