§ Mr. BOWERMANasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how the sum of £86,000, allotted for the maintenance of prisoners of war interned on ships, has been apportioned; how many ships have been employed; what rent is being paid for each ship; how many prisoners there are on each ship; what is the cost of fitting out each ship for the accommodation of the prisoners; what amount is allowed for the food supplied to each man; whether any clothing or boots are given to the men and, if so, the value; and what is the cost of administration on each ship, including the salaries of the staff employed?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANine ships have been utilised for the internment of prisoners of war. The hire of these ships amounts to £86,000 per month, end varies from £7,000 to £12,500 per month according to the gross tonnage. Three of the ships have now been taken off this service. The number of prisoners on board the remainder are:—
"Ascania" … … 1,397 "Scotian" … … 1,132 "Lake Manitoba" … … 1,242 "Saxonia" … … 2,300 "Ivernia" … … 1,575 "Royal Edward" … … 1,200 The cost of fitting each ship was about £1,000—£1,500. The cost of victualling prisoners is under discussion with the owners of the vessels. Clothing and boots are supplied to the men as required. The salaries of the staff are as follows:—
1 Adjutant and Quartermaster—Regimental pay and allowances of rank, plus 3s. a day extra duty pay. 1 Interpreter—£3 a week. 1 Medical Officer—About 16s. a day. 1 Quartermaster-Sergeant—4s. 6d. a day. 1 Provost Sergeant—3s. 2d. a day. 4 Civilian Clerks—24s. to 30s. a week. For every three ships, a Commandant, with regimental pay and allowances of rank, plus 5s. a day command pay. These ships were taken up by the Admiralty at the request of the War Office, to house prisoners for whom no accommodation was available ashore. But, as I stated in my reply to the hon. Member for the Kirkdale Division of Liverpool on Thursday last, it is expected that by the middle of April all the vessels now engaged in housing alien prisoners will have been 1770W vacated, and the ships will then be released unless required for other Government services.