§ 35. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will so relax the restrictions on what prisoners of war may send home as to 1782 allow each one who wishes to do so, to despatch a Christmas parcel containing unrationed food and other articles which, while not infringing the customs regulations, will be limited only as to weight.
§ Mr. ShinwellThese restrictions are the same as those which apply to any one else in the United Kingdom who wishes to send parcels to Germany. They are necessitated by the limited stocks of the various commodities in this country.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeBut is not my right hon. Friend aware that a considerable number of prisoners have made toys for their children at home, and is not it particularly hard that they should be unable to send them over to Germany at Christmas time?
§ Mr. ShinwellI was not aware that this applied to toys manufactured by the prisoners themselves—no reference was made to that in the Question—but I will look into the matter.