HC Deb 05 February 1947 vol 432 cc352-3W
7. Mr. Molson

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster what is the procedure by which a German prisoner of war can secure expedited repatriation on compassionate grounds.

Mr. J. Hynd

An application for compassionate repatriation cannot be made by a German prisoner of war himself but must be originated by his family in Germany on a form obtained from the local German Kreis authority. If the grounds are considered by the German Kreis and Land authorities to be reasonable. it is passed to the Control Commission who forward it to the War Office. The first prisoners to be repatriated under this scheme are now moving to a collecting centre and are due to leave the United Kingdom on 28th February.

75. Mr. Molson

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he is aware that the wife of Paul Becker, a prisoner of war at Loxley, was injured in a street accident on 18th June, 1946, had both legs amputated and is still in hospital; that one of his children died of starvation in February, 1945; that there is another child aged seven years; and why this man, who has been a prisoner since 1st June, 1944, and is in political classification B, has not been granted compassionate repatriation.

Mr. J. Hynd

This prisoner of war is included in the first party of prisoners to be repatriated on compassionate grounds, and which will leave the United Kingdom on 28th February.

79. Mr. Skeffington-Lodge

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will make representations to all our Allies with the object of securing that returned German prisoners of war are not deprived of their belongings and, where they have been robbed, due compensation and redress is afforded them.

Mr. J. Hynd

I have no evidence that repatriated prisoners are being deprived of their belongings. If my hon. Friend will give me details of any particular cases I will have inquiries made.

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