HC Deb 18 July 1946 vol 425 cc260-1W
Mr. Kirby

asked the Secretary of State for War the estimated annual cost of maintaining German and Italian prisoners of war in this country, giving the figures for each, respectively.

Mr. Lawson

The costs of maintenance and other expenses relating to prisoners of war are brought to account under many different votes and, as stated by my hon. Friend on 25th June, in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Monmouth (Mr. P. Thorneycroft), a separate estimate could not be prepared without a disproportionate amount of work by hard pressed staffs. I feel that the work would not be justified in present circumstances.