§ 2. Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is aware that Dr. Chatterton-Hill, 63 years of age, a British subject, died of starvation in Berlin on 12th January owing to neglect by the responsible British authority; and whether, as on 23rd October, 1946, in the 452 last session of Parliament, he promised in this House to give him the necessary facilities to return to this country, he will have the circumstances of his death fully inquired into.
§ Mr. MayhewI cannot accept the implication in this Question. Dr. Chatterton-Hill died of pneumonia, with undernourishment as a contributory cause, but he should have received the normal rations issued to all inhabitants of Berlin. He did apply last October to be repatriated but, having neither means of maintaining himself nor connections in this country, recognised that he could not expect repatriation at that time. He later applied to be sent to a hostel in the United Kingdom and this application was under consideration at the time of his death.
§ Mr. StokesIs my hon. Friend aware that Dr. Chatterton-Hill was only allowed a No. 5 ration card, the lowest of all, that he was refused any form of medical assistance from British doctors, or from British hospitals, and denied the right to receive any British Red Cross parcels?
§ Mr. MayhewThe application to accede to these things was under consideration when Dr. Chatterton-Hill died. [HON. MEMBERS: "Shame."] It is true that delay occurred owing to the centralisation of our consular system in Hamburg. We greatly deplore Dr. Chatterton-Hill's death, and we have already taken steps to decentralise our system and make the necessary staff available.
§ Mr. StokesIs my hon. Friend aware that while his case was being considered Dr. Chatterton-Hill died of cold and starvation? Will my hon. Friend have this matter properly looked into, and a full report made about it?
§ Mr. MayhewImmediately we heard of Dr. Chatterton-Hill's death we sent for an immediate report. We have made the most full inquiries, and have already taken action to decentralise our consular system down to Berlin.
§ Mr. DribergCould my hon. Friend define the essential medical difference between death from starvation, and death from what he calls pneumonia with undernourishment as a contributory cause?
§ Mr. MayhewDr. Chatterton-Hill received the normal ration in Berlin which was, at that time, fully honoured. I 453 cannot accept the implications that he therefore died of starvation on account of neglect.
§ Mr. DribergHe was undernourished.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyWill the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that if, in future, any British subjects are in difficulties in Germany their cases will be dealt with efficiently, and not like this?
§ Mr. MayhewI have already explained that we have taken steps to decentralise our consular administration and to increase our staff in Berlin so that nothing of this kind will happen again.
§ Mr. Sydney SilvermanCan my hon. Friend explain why even the most highly concentrated centralisation failed to produce a result between October and February? However highly centralised it was, there ought to have been an answer to the application in a shorter period than that.
§ Mr. MayhewThe application went to Hamburg, and to have it granted required security clearance. In my view, under a decentralised system the man on the spot would have taken a decision on his own initiative.
§ Mr. SolleyCan my hon. Friend enlighten the House as to what Dr. Chatterton-Hill was doing in Berlin, and how long he was in Germany before his death, because I do not know the facts, and unless I have an answer I shall not be in a position to form a judgment?
§ Mr. MayhewDuring the war, Dr. Chatterton-Hill worked for the Germans in the Trans-Ocean News Agency.
§ Mr. StokesIs my hon. Friend aware that at no time did the security authorities go anywhere near Dr. Chatterton-Hill until after he was dead, and will he have a full and proper inquiry made into the case?
§ Mr. DribergHas my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary read the full report in the "Daily Telegraph"?
§ Mr. StokesIn view of the most unsatisfactory reply from the Under-Secretary, I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment on the earliest possible occasion.