§ 12. Mr. Dumpletonasked the Secretary of State for War why prisoners of war billeted with farmers are not allowed to receive payment for bank holidays, although the farmers are charged for the full amount.
§ Mr. BellengerSo far as I am aware, prisoners of war billeted on farmers are paid for all the hours they work, and 2238 this arrangement applies to all prisoners of war wherever and whenever they are employed.
§ Mr. DumpletonIs my right hon. Friend aware that there is, at any rate among some farmers in my constituency, a sense of injustice that they have to pay in respect of a bank holiday for the men-billeted upon them, and that the men themselves receive nothing?
§ Mr. BellengerThere must be some misunderstanding here, because these prisoners of war are paid on the basis of a 48-hours working week, so that it does not matter when they work, whether it is a bank holiday or not. If my hon. Friend has any special case in mind, perhaps he will have a talk with me.