§ Mr. BRUNNERasked the Home Secretary what has been the cost of the internment of enemy aliens during the War; and what is estimated would be the cost in capital expenditure and per month of the internment of all enemy aliens now uninterned in the country?
§ Sir G. CAVETo ascertain the exact cost of the internment of alien enemies would entail a considerable amount of time and trouble which I hesitate to incur56W at the present time, but I am informed that the approximate cost may be taken at not less than £30 per head per annum, not including interest on capital and apart from loss in labour.
§ Mr. R. McNEILLasked the Home Secretary (1) whether there is an internment working camp for civilians at Grassing-ton, near Skipton; if so, how many enemy aliens are employed there; and what civil or military guard is there over the camp and over the aliens when working outside; and (2) whether alien enemies at Grassington Camp are allowed outside the precincts of the camp when not at work; whether they are rationed with regard to food; and, if so, what are the rations?
§ Sir G. CAVEThere is no working camp at Grassington, but a party of twenty-one interned civilians who have been released on licence for work of national importance at the request of the Ministry of Munitions live there. Seventeen of them are Austrian subjects, and the rest are natives of Schleswig-Holstein. The men are under the supervision of civilians; they are housed together in quarters provided by their employers, and in addition to other restrictions they are confined to their quarters after 9 p.m. The same rationing restrictions apply as those imposed upon the general public.