HC Deb 13 March 1947 vol 434 cc1487-8
48. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will arrange for a census to be taken among German prisoners of war, which will discover the number of those willing to remain in this country as free workmen.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. Ness Edwards)

No, Sir, but we are prepared to consider an arrangement under which a farmer who can provide accommodation may retain prisoners of war on a civilian basis, provided this is without detriment to British workers.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in one particular case in Surrey where a census of a number of prisoners willing to remain here as free workmen was taken the figure which was the outcome of the investigation was something in the region of 10 or 11 per cent.; and that if this was done everywhere we should have a body of some 30,000 German prisoners of war willing to remain with us and help us?

Mr. Ness Edwards

This problem is not without difficulty. We have a lot of men coming in; the door has been opened to Italians on a small scale. This does represent an advance along this road. Certain negotiations have begun, and I ask my hon. Friend to leave the question where it is.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Do we not want them all?

Mr. Keeling

Can the hon. Gentleman not find stronger terms in which to condemn a proposal which, if it is not purely academic and therefore a waste of time, means that Germans alone among foreigners are to be allowed to settle in this country?

Mr. Ness Edwards

No, Sir. That is not so. We should certainly not allow Germans to have that privilege over other people.

Lieut.-Colonel Corbett

Suppose German prisoners are kept under the conditions the hon. Member just mentioned, what charges will be paid for their services, and to whom?

Mr. Ness Edwards

They will be paid on a civilian basis at the proper trade union rate.

Lieut.-Colonel Corbett

To whom?

Mr. Astor

Will the hon. Gentleman go a little further than he has gone in reply to the supplementary questions and assure the House that no preferential treatment will be given to these Germans over displaced persons?

Mr. Ness Edwards

I thought the original answer to the Question made it quite clear that this is surrounded by safeguards to prevent such an occurrence.