§ Sir HAROLD ELVERSTONasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state the number of military and civilian German prisoners of war, respectively, now interned in this country; the estimated number of British military and civilian prisoners interned in Germany; what rations are provided for British prisoners in Germany and what rations are provided for German prisoners in this country; and whether there is any reason why German prisoners should have 1704W superior rations to those proposed by the Food Controller for the inhabitants of this country?
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEI am informed that there are at present in this country 26,837 combatant and 23,929 civilian prisoners of war of whom the greater number are German; and that there are 35,739 British prisoners of war of both categories in Germany. It is not possible to state the precise ration provided for British prisoners of war in Germany, as the amount varies in the various camps, and is based largely on the extent of supplies obtainable locally. With regard to the last part of the question, it is not the fact that German prisoners in this country have better rations than those proposed by the Food Controller.