§ Sir ARTHUR FELLasked the hon. Member for Sheffield (Central Division) if any arrangements are being made to find employment for our prisoners of war interned in Holland, so that the time will not hang so heavy on their hands, particularly if classes can be arranged for the officers to learn languages and book-keeping and the men handicrafts and shorthand, and such other subjects as will be useful to them hereafter when released?
Mr. HOPEArrangements have been made with the British Red Cross Society under which they have assumed responsibility for the organisation and cost of instruction and employment of British subjects interned in Holland. A report by their Commissioner, dated the 25th March last, states that considerable progress in this direction had already been made. Classes and individual instruction in Dutch, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, and German had been arranged for officers, and were in active operation. Classes of non-commissioned officers had been formed, and courses of instruction in Dutch were in operation. Arrangements had been made for a number of officers to receive instruction in painting and drawing. A carpenter's shop, expected to have a full complement of fifty, had been provided at Scheveningen; thirty-seven men were actually employed at the date of718W the report. A hut was being fitted as a tailor's and shoemaker's shop. An efficient class had been started in motor mechanics, a suitable garage and two cars having been obtained for instructional purposes. Two rooms had been taken for a prisoner who was a watchmaker, with a view to the installation of a shop for repairing the watches of the prisoners. He was to take a number of other prisoners as apprentices. Some minor operations had also commenced or were under contemplation. It is hoped that a report on this subject for the quarter recently concluded will shortly be received. A report by the Red Cross Commissioner on the employment of civilians interned in Holland, dated 4th June, has been received, which states that remunerative employment had been found for a small number only. It had been difficult to make much progress, mainly owing to the fact that the ultimate destination of these civilians had been uncertain. Arrangements would, however, it was hoped, be made for the employment and occupation of 150 civilians on their arrival at Nymegen. In general, considerable difficulty was experienced in finding remunerative clerical work for civilians owing to the fact that they were unable to speak Dutch, and to the internal competition. Employment in other spheres came into competition with the Dutch labour market. It is understood that, in the matter of instruction, arrangements made for military prisoners are applicable to civilians.