§ Mr. MACMASTERasked the Secretary of State. for War how many German prisoners of war are now in the United Kingdom; how many of these are employed in works of production, and especially in agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; what are the conditions of their employment as to wages, food, and lodging; and how far these conditions compared with those of British prisoners under German control?
Mr. HOPEThe German combatant prisoners of war in this country number 26,813, of whom 1,047 are officers. It has been stated on several occasions that in the opinion of the military authorities it is undesirable to state the number employed or the nature of their employment. The wages in this country, and, it is believed, in Germany, are based on Article 6 of the annex to The Hague Convention. The food in this country is better than that supplied in Germany. The accommodation in working camps here is satisfactory, but it is difficult to generalise as to the housing in similar camps in Germany, where the conditions seem to vary much.