§ 27. Mr. Skeffington-Lodgeasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether in the case of those prisoners of war about whom he recently gave to the hon. Member for Bedford an assurance that they would not be forcibly repatriated if they feared physical, political or religious persecution, he will make 2562 arrangements to have them classified as displaced persons with the object of making them eligible for various jobs in this country for which no suitable British labour is available.
§ Mr. MayhewNo, Sir. Under the terms of the International Refugee Organisation constitution, as approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in December, 1946, these men cannot be classified as displaced persons.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCould they then be classified as European Volunteer Workers?
§ Mr. MayhewNo, not under existing arrangements, but if my hon. Friend has some other more concrete point in mind, perhaps he would let me know.
§ Earl WintertonCan the hon. Gentleman say whether they come within the ambit of the International Refugee Organisation, if they are not classified in the manner described?
§ Mr. MayhewNo, Sir. I do not think that they do.