Captain Duncanasked the Secretary of State for War under what conditions of pay and hours of work Italian prisoners of war do agricultural and other work in this country; and whether escorts guarding these prisoners are responsible for seeing that they do a fair day's work?
§ Sir E. GriggAs regards rates of pay I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Petersfield (Sir G. Jeffreys) on 27th January, 1942. The hours of work of Italian prisoners of war in the United Kingdom conform as far as possible to the hours performed by civilian workers employed on similar work, although it is necessary to reduce them during the winter months so that the prisoners are back in camp before the black-out. Escorts guarding prisoners are responsible for seeing that they do a fair day's work.
Lieut.-Commander Gurney Braithwaiteasked the Minister of Agriculture what rates of pay are being recommended by his Department for Italian prisoners of war employed upon the land; and how these compare with the remuneration of British soldiers loaned for agricultural duties at harvest time?
Mr. HudsonItalian prisoners of war working in agriculture are remunerated by the War Office in accordance with the Geneva Convention at the rate of ¾d. an hour for unskilled and 1½d. an hour for skilled work, subject to daily maxima of 6d. and 1s. respectively. They receive no remuneration from the farmer or any other source. Soldiers ordered to help in agriculture at harvest time receive their ordinary Army pay, and liquid refreshment to the value of 1s. a day has to be provided by the farmer.