§ Major HUNTasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the German interned prisoners at the Isle of Man who volunteered for work at Yate were promised the rate of pay current in the district; if so, why was this cut down to a Is a day, with the consequence that they refused to do any work for three weeks; were they sent back to the Isle of Man; what was the cost of their transport; and who was made responsible for this mistake and unnecessary expense?
Mr. HOPEI fear a mistake was made in this matter, with the result suggested in the question. The prisoners, being civilians, could not, according to international usage, be compelled to work. The trouble appears to have arisen through a misapprehension on the part of officials in the Isle of Man.