§ 48. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Minister of Labour whether in the case of those prisoners of war who were repatriated prior to any offer being made to them to remain in this country as civilian workers, he is agreeable to allow them to return to fill jobs for which British labour cannot be found and which are important for ensuring the success of the Government's production drive.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeThat monosyllabic answer—
§ Mr. DribergDissyllabic.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeThat dissyllabic answer being unsatisfactory, will my hon. Friend look at this question again? Having regard to the fact that a considerable number of these men are out of work in Germany, is there any reason why they should not be put on the same footing as ex-Italian prisoners of war who are allowed to come back?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI have replied on this question a number of times previously. I should like to emphasise again that the first obligation of this country is to the war victims who are now in Germany, and until we have given them a chance of rehabilitation in this country we ought not to try and recruit German prisoners of war to come back.
Mr. Skeffington-LodgcIs my hon. Friend also aware that nothing but a spirit of reconciliation will put the world to rights, and that the view which he has expressed is one from which I strongly dissent?
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsI am aware of that.