§ Mr. Gibsonasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in order to allay the mental distress of relatives of men who were prisoners of war in Germany but who have not yet been found, he will make a public statement indicating the steps which are taken to trace these missing men; and whether he is satisfied that every possible effort is being made by the Control Commission in Germany to deal with this matter.
§ Mr. LawsonA Search Bureau was established in Germany to trace missing prisoners of war. Its work is now almost completed and the majority of the 105 prisoners of war still unaccounted for are believed to have been at one time in areas east of the British and American zones. The Soviet Government is also understood to be instituting a search. As regards the entry of British search teams into Soviet occupied territory I am not yet able to add anything to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs on 7th November in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Reigate (Mr. Touche).