§ 38. Mr. Skeffington-lodgeasked the Secretary of State for War whether in those cases in which prisoners of war find themselves unemployed through no fault of their own, he will arrange for them to be paid at basic rates instead of leaving them dependent on camp welfare funds, which may be inadequate to meet the men's commitments in respect of canteen expenditure and their obligations to their relatives in Germany.
§ Mr. J. FreemanPrisoners who are unable to work are not necessarily without means to make canteen purchases, as they may well have credits available in their pay accounts. Those who have no such credits may be provided with articles which are essential to the maintenance of health and hygiene, the cost being recovered when their accounts are again in credit. Prisoners who are habitually good workers may continue during unemployment to receive any good work 1134 bonuses to which they are entitled: these are not available for current spending but are available for remittances to Germany.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeAs my hon. Friend's statement does not entirely meet the case, will he look at it sympathetically again, especially as a very small sum of money is involved and there is considerable distress of mind among a number of prisoners who at times become unemployed?
§ Mr. FreemanI will look at this again to see whether it is possible, without an increase in public expenditure, to devise a means of relieving anxiety in this matter.