§ Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that large numbers of nursing orderlies and their wounded patients who are prisoners of war were removed at the end of September from camp Stalag VIII B and 2077W that no information has since been available as to where they now are; what steps are being taken to obtain this information; and what has happened to Red Cross parcels sent to these prisoners of war?
§ Mr. SandysI assume that my hon. Friend is referring to prisoners of war recommended for repatriation. According to my latest information, about 250 prisoners have been taken back from France to hospitals in Germany and between 900 and 1,000 are still at Rouen. Further inquiries are being pursued through the Protecting Power and the International Red Cross Committee. Large quantities of food, clothing and other necessities have been sent to France by the International Red Cross Committee for those prisoners who have not yet returned to Germany.
§ Major Lyonsasked the Secretary of State for War what use is being made of Italian prisoners of war, European and non-European, each separately, both in India and in our African Dependencies; and whether, in the latter case, now that Abyssinia is free of enemy troops, he will ensure that as many as possible are employed on road improvements, or other urgent public works in Africa and elsewhere, in the interests both of economy and the conservation of man-power?
§ Mr. SandysWherever conditions permit, Italian prisoners of war are being set to work. The schemes upon which they are engaged include agriculture, building construction, vehicle maintenance, and the manufacture of clothing, blankets and boots. As regards the second part of the Question, prisoners of war in Ethiopia are being evacuated as soon as possible to destinations in various parts of the Empire, where it is intended to give them useful employment.
§ Sir W. Davisonasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs which is now the Protecting Power concerned with looking after the interests of British prisoners of war since the United States of America has become a belligerent?
§ Mr. LawI am glad to be able to inform the House that the Swiss Government have consented to take over the representation of British interests in Germany and are sending a Minister in the Swiss Diplomatic Service to Berlin2078W for this purpose. I hope shortly to be able to announce the completion of similar arrangements in regard to the remaining enemy countries.