§ 36. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for War how many Italian and German prisoners of war are still detained in this country; how many of them are engaged on useful work; and how many are receiving direct payment for their labour and at what rates.
§ Mr. LawsonAs the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Mr. StokesMy right hon. Friend cannot get out of it that way. Is it not a fact that whilst these prisoners are paid only a nominal rate for their labour, the Government charge the full rate for the job? If that is the case, when is it proposed to discontinue this practice, which amounts to nothing more or less than slave labour?
§ Mr. LawsonMy hon. Friend asked me how many Italian and German prisoners of war are still detained in this country. I am giving him the facts and figures in my reply, and it would take the rest of the day if I were to read it out.
§ Mr. StokesI asked if my right hon. Friend would state the rates of pay that these prisoners were receiving. That requires no figures at all, because they are paid practically nothing. Why cannot he
| Italians. | Germans. | |||
| Employed | … | 84,000 | 183,300 | Includes Camp Staffs Italians,10,500 |
| Germans, 26,300 | ||||
| who are generally paid from funds contributed by the prisoners who are working, and Germans,2,000 | ||||
| who are at educational camps and also receive payment from non-public funds. | ||||
| Unemployable | … | — | 12,700 | Mainly officers and protected personnel. |
| Unemployed | … | 21,000 | 29,000 | About 35,000 awaiting repatriation, or recently arrived in this country:remainder mainly sick. |
| 105,000 | 225,000 |