Prison Camps (Conditions)

HC Deb 29 May 1946 vol 423 cc1150-2

47. Mr. Stokes

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will give a list of the camps in Germany in which S.S. men are detained, stating the numbers in each camp; whether he will give a similar list of camps used for political prisoners, and state the caloric value of the rations as at 1st December, 1945.

The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)

The answer is long, and with permission, I am circulating a full statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Stokes

May I ask the hon. Gentleman whether he can tell the House that the rations being served out to these people are living rations, and not in accordance with the terrible revelations that have come forward now in regard to some military camps?

Mr. Hynd

I would not guarantee that any rations in Germany at the present time are up to what I consider a reasonable living standard, but having regard to conditions in Germany I am satisfied that the rations in those camps are adequate and extremely favourable in comparison with the ordinary civilian ration.

Following is the statement:

48. Major Tufton Beamish

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many Germans are at present imprisoned in the British zone in Germany without trial; how many of these are imprisoned as Nazis; how many because they belong to certain categories and how many as suspected war criminals; by what date he estimates that the last of such persons will have undergone trial; and whether he is satisfied that the standard of accommodation, feeding, medical facilities and general treatment in the camps in which these men and women are interned and, in particular, in the senior officers' internment camp at Ostend are entirely satisfactory.

Mr. J. Hynd

Roughly 45,000 are at present in prison, including 41,000 dangerous Nazis and security suspects and 4,000 suspected war criminals. These persons will be tried as quickly as possible, but I cannot give a date by which their trials will be completed; large numbers are involved and the majority cannot be tried until the Nuremberg Tribunal has given its verdict on criminal organisations.

The treatment of internees in the British zone has recently been reviewed. As a result, food production activities have been intensified; balanced rations are provided for hospital patients; postal facilities have been extended and welfare arrangements generally have been improved. The senior officers' internment camp at Ostend is a prisoner of war camp for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War is responsible.

Major Beamish

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there have been a number of disquieting reports from reliable officers and even more disquieting rumours regarding conditions in a number of camps in Germany, and if half those reports are true they cast a grave reflection indeed on our administration? In the light of that, can the Minister give us an assurance that our treatment of German prisoners has been guided, is guided and will be guided by justice combined with firmness?

Mr. Hynd

I can give the hon. and gallant Member the assurance from the time I took over the administration on 5th April. I know that there are a number of rumours and a number of statements made concerning the conditions in these camps. Obviously I cannot check. up every single statement, but I can assure the House that I have made personal investigation into some of the statements, and I have been assured by the internees themselves that the statements are entirely without foundation. The latest story was concerned with a camp at Recklinghausen, and I took the opportunity of inviting the party of Members now in the British zone to visit the camp. I believe they completely satisfied themselves that the situation was far from as stated.

Mr. Eden

In view of the importance of the matter and cognate military matters to our good name, would the hon. Gentleman undertake in respect not only of his own administration but of the time before that, which is also a Government responsibility, to institute an inquiry so that all the facts will be publicly known?

Mr. Hynd

There is a Question on the Order Paper to the Secretary of State for War in regard to the previous period.

Captain Francis Noel-Baker

Is the hon. Gentleman satisfied that the staffs preparing and sifting the evidence against these persons are adequate? Is he also satisfied that they are not being asked to rush through a number of cases anyhow? Is sufficient importance given to the accuracy and justice of the cases rather than to the speed with which they are being conducted?

Mr. Hynd

I certainly am not satisfied that the British staff on this particular section is adequate to the task, nor is the British staff adequate to the general work of the administration of this tremendous area, but within the facilities that are at our disposal and with the staff available I think I can give the assurance that the hon. and gallant Gentleman asks.