HC Deb 16 July 1946 vol 425 cc1044-5
51. Mr. Stokes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much money is being received by His Majesty's Government as a result of the hire of German prisoners of war to agriculture and industry reckoned on the difference between a hire price of £4 per week average and the approximate cost of 30s. a week to cover bare wages and keep and whether he will show a separate item for this revenue in his next Budget statement.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Mr. Dalton)

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft) on 25th June, to which I have nothing to add. The answer to the second part of the Question is "No. Sir."

Mr. Stokes

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the wages received by these people are purely nominal, that the clear cost of upkeep, as given in answer to a Question in this House, is 23s. a week? Is he further aware that it is laid down in the Geneva Convention that their accounts are to be credited with a proportion of the wages for which they work, and that that is not being done? Will my right hon. Friend make a statement about it?

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, I will make a statement. I anticipate that I shall make a loss on the deal. As was explained to the hon. Member for Monmouth in the answer which I have cited, we are providing in the Army Estimates for the receipt of £36 million in respect of the services of enemy prisoners of war. He continued: I do not expect this estimated receipt to cover the maintenance and other expenses to the Exchequer."—[OFFICIAL REPORT. 25th June. 1946: vol. 424. C. 151.)

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Could not the whole situation be considerably simplified if these prisoners were returned as soon as possible to their homes?

Mr. Dalton

It would be simplified to the extent that our harvest would suffer.

Mr. Sydney Silverman

Would my right hon. Friend consider the advisability of having a special account and making a special statement in order to make certain that we are not making a profit out of the retention of these people?

Mr. Dalton

I would sooner make a profit than a loss.

Mr. Stokes

Is this not an exceptional departure, and is it not a fact that nothing of this sort was done in the last war? This is a most unusual precedent and is really equivalent to the employment of slave labour.