§ 60. Mr. Dribergasked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware of the continuing hardship to German ex-prisoners of war, now working in Britain as civilians, who are not permitted to draw the credit balances due to them for work done during their imprisonment except in Germany in marks; and, as some of these men have now no homes or relatives in Germany, and do not wish to return there, he will endeavour to arrange that they shall be paid here in sterling the money owing to them.
§ 63. Mr. Mitchisonasked the Economic Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that Mr. J. Orth has a credit balance of £24 12s. 9d., earned by work in this country as a prisoner of war; that Mr. Orth, having married an English wife and settled in Kettering, where he is employed in the boot and shoe trade, has no use for the money in Germany but needs it in this country; and what arrangements he proposes to make for the payment of the money due in this and similar cases.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Douglas Jay)Under present arrangements, payment of credit balances of all German prisoners of war is a German liability. To pay part of these balances in sterling would transfer some of the liability to the British taxpayer.
§ Mr. StokesIs it not a fact that Western Germany is now in the sterling area, and does not that simplify the procedure?
§ Mr. MitchisonWill not the effect of this decision, if it is persisted in, be that men who are living and working in this country will never be able to get payment of what they have earned, and will not 1967 the Economic Secretary reconsider the matter in the light of the unfairness and hardship caused to the people concerned?
§ Mr. JayI agree that this involves hardship to the people concerned. The trouble is that we have not yet found a solution which would not involve a burden on the British taxpayer. If we can find a solution we shall.
§ Mr. DribergTo what extent would there be a burden on the British taxpayer? Can my hon. Friend say how large it would be? In any case, to face the matter squarely, should not there be a slight burden on the British taxpayer, since these men worked well and hard in this country, producing food?
§ Mr. JayThe burden would be proportionate to the amount involved. There was an arrangement by which each country undertook this liability for its own nationals wherever they were prisoners of war. If we now undertook this additional burden we should be carrying a double burden, and that is the objection.
§ Mr. MitchisonIs the hon. Gentleman not aware that the payment of my own salary as a Member of Parliament imposes a burden on the British taxpayer, and is there any reason why the money earned by Mr. Orth in Kettering should not be paid to him when I continue to be paid my salary?
§ Mr. JayYes, because under the agreement this is a liability undertaken by the German authority. As I say, if we can find a solution we will.
§ Captain CrookshankDoes the Minister accept the statement that there may be persons working in this country who can, under no circumstances, be paid? It so, that is a terrible allegation to make.
§ Mr. JayNo, Sir. This is a liability which arises from the period when these persons were prisoners of war, and it is only in so far as those payments are affected that the difficulty arises.
§ Mr. Skeffington-LodgeCan my hon. Friend tell the House what sum would be involved if the point made by my hon. Friends is met?
§ Mr. StokesIs the hon. Gentleman aware that Section 34 of the Geneva Convention lays down that sums standing to the credit of prisoners of war shall be remitted to them in full by the detaining authority on their ceasing to be prisoners of war?
§ Mr. DribergIf I put down another Question in a week's time will my hon. Friend undertake to make a much fuller statement about this, and to investigate the whole matter before then?
§ Mr. DribergThank you.