§ 48. Sir Patrick Hannonasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster if he has considered the criticisms of a number of ladies, prominent in the public life of the country, on the arrangements made for the reception and accommodation of British wives in Germany, a copy 1472 of which has been sent to him; and if any modification of their present policy is contemplated by His Majesty's Government.
§ Mr. J. HyndI have seen the letter in "The Times" of 10th October to which no doubt the hon. Member refers. Allegations in the sense of those contained in the letter were, however, dealt with in the answer I gave to questions on this. subject on 9th October. The movement of families is already governed by the closest admissible consideration for German interests: and no modification of this policy is at present contemplated.
§ Sir P. HannonHas the hon. Gentleman given serious consideration to the allegations made in the letter in "The Times"? Does he contend that those statements were unfounded, or, if they are borne out by the facts, surely some action will be taken by His Majesty's Government?
§ Mr. HyndI have naturally given Very close consideration to the whole of the points raised in that letter and I appreciate the spirit in which it was written and the considerations the ladies had in mind. The simple fact is that the letter is not based on the conditions that are laid down for the admission of families into Germany, and it is His Majesty's Government's policy that our personnel in Germany should have the amenities made possible by the presence of their families. In these circumstances it is, obviously necessary that we must balance, so far as it is possible, considerations of inconvenience to Germans and inconvenience to our own personnel.