THE LORD BISHOP OF CHICHESTERMy Lords, I beg to ask His Majesty's Government a question of which I have given private notice. The question is: Whether their attention has been called to statements made in the Press and elsewhere about conditions in certain camps under British control for German civilian internees and for German prisoners of war in Belgium and in the British Zone in Germany; whether investigations are being made as to the accuracy of such statements; and whether the results of such investigations will be made public as soon as possible.
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY UNDERSECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (LORD NATHAN)My Lords, the attention of His Majesty's Government has been called to these statements. As far as prisoner-of-war camps in Belgium are concerned, inquiries were instituted immediately reports of irregularities had been brought to notice. A Court of Inquiry is now sitting in Belgium under the auspices of the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, British Army of the Rhine, and I understand that a report is likely to be rendered shortly.
The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief has also been asked to render a full report on the allegations made in an article in the Observer of May 26 regarding conditions in civil internee camps. If this report does not fully cover the ground such further steps will be taken as may appear necessary, including the convening of a Court of Inquiry. I shall be very willing to make a further statement as soon as the full facts are available.