Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked (1) whether any German prisoners are employed, or proposed to be employed, on the necessary work of road making and repairing in Scotland; (2) whether any German prisoners are being employed, or are proposed to be employed, for the purpose of carrying out works of public utility held in abeyance on account of labour difficulties due to the War; and (3) whether any consideration has been given to the question of the extent to which the labour of German prisoners might be employed in the preparation of land, the erection of buildings, the making of roads, and the arrangement of water supply with a view to the development of afforestation and small holdings after the War, and the provision of favourable opportunities for the settlement of discharged soldiers on the land?
§ Mr. TENNANTI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by the Secretary of State for War on 21st August to a similar question by the hon. Member for372W Newcastle-under-Lyme, from which he will see that it is not considered desirable to give the particulars he wishes.
Mr. SCOTTasked whether any consideration has been given to the practicability of employing German prisoners upon excavation work for a ship canal from the Forth to the Clyde?
§ Mr. TENNANTI would refer my hon. Friend to the answer on this subject given by the Secretary to the Admiralty to the hon. and gallant Member for Stirlingshire on 2nd November last.
§ Colonel WEIGALLasked the Treasurer of the Household to whom, under the scheme approved by the Government, application must be made for the services of German prisoners of war on agricultural holdings; and whether the services of the County War Agricultural Committees are to be utilised in connection with the Government scheme for employment of German prisoners on the land?
Mr. HOPEThe full details of the scheme have not yet been worked out. It is hoped to arrange that applications for small parties, such as those referred to in my reply to the hon. Member for Newton on the 21st November, shall be made to the local military authorities, while those for larger parties, which it will be necessary to guard, shall be made to the War Office. It is hoped to utilise the services of the County War Agricultural Committees in connection with this scheme. It should be pointed out that for some time past selected civilian prisoners of war who have volunteered for the work have been employed on the land. Applications for such civilian prisoners should be made to the prisoners of war branch of the Home Office.