§ Mr. Butcherasked the Secretary of State for War whether any further information has been received concerning men made prisoners of war by the Japanese?
§ Sir J. GriggI am glad of this opportunity of informing the House that representatives of the Protecting Power and of the International Red Cross Committee have now visited four camps in Japan, two camps in Korea, and two camps and a hospital in Hong Kong. These camps all contain prisoners of war from the United Kingdom and the Dominions. Telegraphic reports on these camps are arriving and are being closely studied. They disclose that prisoners of war are benefiting in health by their transfer to Japan and Korea from less healthy latitudes, and the detaining Power will not, I think, refuse to consider suggestions which are being made to secure improvement in conditions. We are continuing to make representations through the Protecting Powers in the hope that Japan will be willing to admit the representatives of the Protecting Power and International Red Cross Committee to camps in Burma, Malaya and the Netherland East Indies in which the majority of British prisoners of war are confined.
§ Mr. Butcherasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will continue allowances to men serving in the Far East and likely to be prisoners in Japanese hands, although not notified as such?
§ Sir J. GriggIn the case of Hong Kong these allowances will, in any case, continue to 31st March next. The position of the relatively small number still posted as missing at Hong Kong is now being examined. As regards those who have been posted missing from other operations in the Far East, the proportion so far reported as prisoner of war is small, and the allowances will continue for 16 months from the date the relatives were notified that the man was missing, or to the 30th September, 1943, whichever is the earlier, unless, in any particular case, other news 1181W is received in the meantime. The position will again be reviewed before this extension expires.