Middle East and North Africa (Hansard, 11 February 1947)

§ 8. Mr. Dodds-Parker
asked the Secretary of State for War how many German and Italian prisoners of war, respectively, remain in the Middle East and North Africa under British control.

§ Mr. Bellenger
At 31st January approximately 90,000, all of whom are German prisoners.

§ Mr. Dodds-Parker
May I ask what action is being taken to repatriate these men? At what rate are they going back to Germany?

§ Mr. Bellenger
I think the next Question deals with that point.

§ Mr. Hogg
What is the basis on which these men are retained at all? Does it not use up manpower to guard them, and what possible right in humanity have we to keep them?

§ Mr. Bellenger
They are part of the whole picture. We have a far larger number in this country. All of them are being repatriated fairly speedily.

§ Mr. Godfrey Nicholson
That does not answer the Question at all. Are they performing any function in the Middle East?

§ Mr. Bellenger
They are pretty fully occupied.

§ Brigadier Low
What are they doing?