§ 107. Mr. N. Macphersonasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the increase in the price of cigarettes, he will increase the allowance of five shillings per week which farmers may deduct from payment to A.E.Cs. in respect of German prisoners of war.
§ Mr. BellengerI presume that the hon. Member is referring to the arrangements by which farmers may spend up to 5s. a week on behalf of prisoners who are billeted on them, the money being subsequently recovered from the prisoners' pay account. This money is in effect an advance of pay which the prisoner has earned, and the limit of 5s. was fixed with regard to the average earnings of the prisoners, not to the cost of commodities. There is, therefore, no question of raising the limit because of the increase in the price of cigarettes.