HC Deb 04 June 1946 vol 423 cc1822-4
80. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War how many German prisoners of war are now held in this country; how many of them are employed in agriculture, the preparation of building sites and other useful work; how many have attended educational courses at Wilton and elsewhere; and what steps are being taken to speed the repatriation of those who are known to be anti-Nazi and therefore fit to help in the political and economic organisation of democracy in Germany.

Mr. Lawson

I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the morale of many of these German prisoners is very low because at the present time they lack any hope or assurance regarding their future? Will he also bear in mind that if they are to make a long stay here, their conditions should be carefully looked into?

Mr. Lawson

Yes, Sir.

Following are the figures:

On 15th May, 338,000 German prisoners of war were held in this country and were employed as follows:

Numbers. Employment. Remarks.
163,000 Agriculture … Numbers employed include minimum proportion of Camp Staffs.
22,000 Preparation of building sites …
94,000 Other useful work …
46,000 Unemployed … 11,000 sick and in detention.
35,000 recently arrived and held in transit.
13,000 Unemployable … Mainly Officers and Protected Personnel.
338,000 Total.

Nine hundred German prisoners of war have attended educational courses at Wilton Park. The steps necessary to secure the early repatriation of anti-Nazi prisoners of war who lived in or who volunteer to live in the British zone are under active consideration by the Departments concerned.

81. Mr. Edelman

asked the Secretary of State for War how many Germans, recruited from concentration camps for forced service in the 999 Division, are still detained as prisoners of war.

Mr. Lawson

I regret that this information is not readily available, and could not be obtained without a considerable amount of labour.