§ Mr. G. LAMBERTasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) whether, having regard to the number of Turkish prisoners in British hands, he will consider the possibility of arranging for an exchange of British prisoners in Turkish hands; and whether he will state the numbers of each respectively?
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Mr. J. HOPEHis Majesty's Government have for a long time past made every effort to arrive at an agreement for the exchange of as many invalid prisoners as possible. After much delay we have now heard that the Turkish Government are willing to send delegates to Switzerland to discuss the whole question with British representatives. There is a great preponderance of Turkish prisoners in British hands, their numbers being at present probably 45,000 as against about 8,000 British and Indians in Turkish hands, who are believed to have survived the rigours of their captivity.