§ 37. Mr. Sidney Shephardasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that many prisoners of war of Roumanian nationality are being repatriated against their wishes under Scheme Fox; and if he will give an assurance that such men can remain in this country as European volunteer workers if they so desire.
§ The Under-Secretary of State for War (Mr. Michael Stewart)The answer to the first part of the Question is "No." As regards the second, prisoners of war are not given the status of European voluntary workers, but are released as civilians on a temporary contract of service; their selection is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture.
§ Mr. ShephardWould it not be better to allow these men to remain in this country as European volunteer workers rather than to send them back to their own country and bring European volunteer workers to this country to do exactly the same work?
§ Mr. StewartWe have no information of any of these men being sent back to their own country against their will. The hon. Member is misinformed on this point.
§ Mr. ShephardThey are being sent back, whether against their will or not, and replaced by European volunteer workers.
§ Mr. StewartNo, Sir. The men referred to by the hon. Member are men who were brought over to this country under Operation Fox, and were, in fact, not eligible to be brought over. They are given priority for repatriation.
§ Mr. ShephardCould they stay here if they wished?
§ Sir W. SmithersWill the Under-Secretary give an assurance that, in the event of any of these Roumanians being repatriated, they will not eventually be handed over to the Russians and sent to Siberia, to death or worse?