§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the first question standing on the Paper in my name.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether, in view of the hardship to which thousands of refugees are now being subjected as a result of the policy of indiscriminate internment, steps can be taken to alleviate their conditions by improving the postal services at the internment camps in order to reduce the long delays which now occur in the delivery and dispatch of letters.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR INDIA AND BURMA (THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIRE)My Lords, the delays which have occurred in the delivery and dispatch of the correspondence of internees have been partly due to the difficulty experienced by their friends and relatives in ascertaining the camp to which to address their letters and partly to the great volume of work which has been thrown on the staff of the Chief Postal Censor as a result of the sudden increase in the numbers interned. The whole position has recently been reviewed by my right honourable friend the Secretary of State. The central index of internees now set up by the Home Office has overcome the first difficulty and the second, it is hoped, has been met by fresh arrangements about censorship. My right honourable friend assures me that there should now be no unreasonable delay in the delivery or dispatch of correspondence.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, I beg to ask the second question on the Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask His Majesty's Government whether there is any foundation for the complaints that the facilities for medical inspection and treatment in the 362 aliens internment camps are totally inadequate; and, if so, what steps it is proposed to take to improve these important services.]
§ THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREMy Lords, there has not yet been time to carry out a comprehensive review of the medical arrangements for the care and treatment of internees in camps for the administration of which the Home Office accepted responsibility on the 5th August. It is not true that the medical arrangements are totally inadequate. Inquiries made so far show that while at two temporary camps the position is far from satisfactory, the arrangements in the more permanent camps in the Isle of Man, where the majority of the aliens are interned, are reasonably good. The two temporary camps—both tented camps—are at Sutton Coldfield and Prees Heath. The internees at the former are to be removed in a day or so to a camp at York which has better accommodation; it is hoped to close the second before the end of September. In the other camps camp hospitals are available where internees can receive proper medical attention; serious cases of illness which cannot be treated in them are sent to civilian hospitals where the internees receive the same treatment as other patients. There are still in the camps some elderly or infirm persons who may be eligible for release under the terms of the White Paper. The importance of early release in these cases is fully recognised and special steps are being taken to secure for medical officers in charge of camps additional assistance where necessary in this task, so that these cases may be disposed of at the earliest possible date.
§ LORD DAVIESMy Lords, arising out of that answer may I ask the noble Duke whether these arrangements will be expedited and carried out at the earliest possible moment?
§ THE DUKE OF DEVONSHIREYes, I can assure the noble Lord that they will be.