§ Sir WILLIAM PEARCEasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if, under The Hague Agreement, civilian prisoners of war in Ruhleben are included, so that all who have been prisoners for eighteen months and over will reach Holland at an early date?
Mr. J. HOPEThe provisions of The Hague Agreement, which have been fully explained in Parliament, respecting the transfer to neutral country of officer and non-commissioned officer prisoners of war who have been in captivity for eighteen months and over, do not apply to civilian prisoners of war. Paragraph 12 of The Hague Agreement, however, provides for the transfer to and internment in Holland of 400 invalid civilian prisoners of war, the choice of whom rests entirely with the medical authorities of the captor Government, and is to be made in accordance with the new and more lenient schedule of disabilities applicable to combatant prisoners of war. The agreement further provides for the resumption of the repatriation of civilians over forty-five years of age and of those unfit for military service. Three hundred and seventy-eight British civilian prisoners have already arrived in this country from Germany.
§ Sir EDWARD PARROTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the prevailing practice regarding the pay of a British prisoner in Germany; whether his Army pay continues to be credited to him; and, if so, whether such amount is liable to any deductions for 1008W maintenance in Germany when adjustments are made between the two Governments after the War?
§ Mr. FORSTERArmy pay continues to be credited to the soldier's account while he is a prisoner of var. No deduction will be made to cover the cost of his maintenance in Germany.