HC Deb 28 October 1947 vol 443 cc670-2
9. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Secretary of State for War what action he has taken to secure that a pension or other form of adequate compensation is paid to the parents or dependants of those prisoners of war killed and injured in a level crossing accident at Burton Agnes, Yorkshire, on 17th September last, while in the forcible employment of this country.

The Secretary of State for War (Mr. Shinwell)

The Geneva Convention does not impose any obligation on the detaining power to pay compensation to the relatives of a prisoner of war whose captivity is terminated by death whatever may be the cause. In cases such as that mentioned in the Question, the view of His Majesty's Government has been that compensation is a matter for settlement by the proper authorities in the man's own country. Where a British prisoner of war was killed during the period of his captivity by the enemy, the death is accepted as due to service and the pension awards are made by the Ministry of Pensions.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Can my right hon. Friend say who is the proper authority for compensating them?

Mr. Shinwell

I cannot offhand. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put a Question on the Paper.

Mr. Stokes

As the Minister has quoted the Geneva Convention in support of himself, may I ask if he is aware that that Convention lays it down that prisoners of war are to be returned to their homesteads as soon as possible after the cessation of hostilities? Does he think that even this Socialist Government have carried this out?

Mr. Shinwell

I think that is irrelevant to the original question.

Mr. Stokes

It is very relevant.

Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

Owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment at the first opportunity.

10. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Secretary of State for War in what circumstances Heinz Lenz, a German prisoner of war, was killed in helping to clear a minefield at Selsea; and what action he has taken to arrange for compensation to his dependants, and to those of one of his comrades who was injured.

Mr. Shinwell

This prisoner of war was unfortunately killed through accidentally stepping on a mine while searching for mines with a mine detector. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave in answer to the preceding Question. I am looking further into certain aspects of these cases.

37. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will make a statement about the recent road accident in Bedfordshire in which one' prisoner of war from Clapham Camp was killed and four others injured, such statement to cover the arrangements he is making in the matter of compensation.

Mr. Shinwell

On 20th October a lorry driven by a civilian was transporting prisoners of war from their camp to their work when it became involved in a road accident near Bedford with a lorry belonging to the Women's Land Army. As a result of the accident five prisoners of war were injured and of these one has died in hospital. The inquest has been adjourned for 10 days. As regards compensation in respect of the prisoner of war who has died I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to Question No. 9 today. With regard to the prisoners of war who were injured, they will be dealt with under the scheme announced in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 1st July.

Mr. Quintin Hogg

With regard to this question of compensation, surely the refusal of the right hon. Gentleman is really repugnant to the dictates of civilised humanity? Were not these people who were killed Service men, no matter whether they were Hottentots or Germans, and are not their relatives entitled to compensation?

Mr. Shinwell

The principles of the Geneva Convention in this respect are universally applied. We cannot apply one system here and another system elsewhere. I have already said, in reply to an earlier Question, that I am reviewing certain aspects of this case.

Mr. Hogg

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the War Office invoke the Geneva Convention when it suits them and that when it does not suit them they say it does not apply? Why should the War Office have it both ways?

Mr. Shinwell

This is my first experience of invoking the Geneva Convention.

Mr. Cecil Poole

If British men had been killed in similar circumstances in Germany, would their relatives have been compensated?