§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War what is the existing dietary scale for enemy officer prisoners of war, and in particular those articles which are the subject of rationing Orders of the Ministry of Food; when was the scale last revised or substantially altered, and in what respect; what articles are allowed to be purchased by these prisoners, whether of food or drink, outside the scale; and are such purchases subject to any conditions or limitations as to quantity or frequency of purchase?
Mr. HOPEI cannot within reasonable limits give the full dietary for officer prisoners of war, but shall be glad to furnish my hon. and learned Friend with it. Of rationed articles, officer prisoners of war may purchase 14 ozs. of meat, including bone, per week, 7 ozs. sugar, and 4 ozs. of edible fat. The scale was last revised on 18th October last, the material alteration being the substitution of 4 ozs. preserved meat for a similar quantity of ordinary meat. No purchases outside the dietary are permitted. As regards drink, officer prisoners of war are allowed to buy a limited amount of light wines and beer, but no liqueurs or spirits.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will state what is the existing dietary scale for alien enemy prisoners of war who are non-commissioned officers and men, and in particular those articles which are subject to rationing so far as the civil population is concerned; when was the scale last 940W revised or substantially altered, and in what respect; are these prisoners permitted to make any purchases of food outside the scale; and what are the articles, and under what conditions as to quantity or frequency of purchase?
Mr. HOPEFor the reason given in my last reply, I cannot give the full dietary of non-commissioned officers and men prisoners of war. Of rationed articles these prisoners are entitled to 4 ozs. meat on three days a week, 1 oz of sugar daily, and 3/7 oz. of margarine if engaged on work and 3/14 oz. if not. The scale was last revised on 12th July last, when jam was removed from the ration, cheese reduced from 1 oz. to 4/7 oz. daily, an increased supply of rice and margarine being substituted. No foodstuffs may be purchased, except such as are sold in canteens. Slightly increased rations are issued to prisoners engaged in heavy manual work.
§ Sir H. NIELDasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he has received any information concerning the organised insubordination, strikes, or refusal to work on the part of enemy prisoners of war employed in agricultural work in the Parliamentary Division of Uxbridge; whether he is aware that these men have ceased to work and declined to resume unless they received additional food rations from the farmers or other occupiers of the land on which they were put to work; and what steps he has taken or proposes to take to compel rigid obedience to regulations and effective and deterrent punishment?
Mr. HOPEThe military authorities inform me that they have received no information respecting the incident referred to. Inquiries are, however being made, and I will inform my hon. and learned Friend of their result.