§ Mr. Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that 22 married internees, who were removed overseas from their internment camp in the Isle of Man, were told before their removal that they would be accompanied by their wives, but had no opportunity to communicate with their wives interned in the same island and were subsequently sent overseas without their wives; whether arrangements have been made for the wives to join their husbands and to inform the latter of this; and whether opportunities will now be afforded for interned husbands and wives to communicate with each other before being sent overseas?
§ Mr. PeakeA number of married internees volunteered to go to Australia on the ship which left for that country on 10th July. They were told not that they would be accompanied by their wives, but that, if possible, arrangements would be made for their wives to follow, should they be willing to do so. Completion of 619W the arrangements which were being made for sending these wives, and other married internees with their wives and children to Australia, has had to be deferred pending further communication with the Australian Government. In connection with these arrangements, an opportunity was given for husbands and wives now interned in the Isle of Man to meet together and discuss the matter, so that the party might be confined to those willing to go to Australia together.
§ Mr. Harveyasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware of the complaints that parcels addressed to interned persons in internment camps have not reached the persons concerned and have not been returned to the senders; whether any action has been taken to avoid hardship and disappointment in this connection; and whether clear instructions will be published and made available in the camps as to the conditions under which parcels may be sent to those interned in these camps?
§ Mr. PeakeMy right hon. Friend is aware that there have been such complaints and steps are being taken to remove the causes of them.
§ Mr. G. Straussasked the Home Secretary why letters addressed to anti-Nazi aliens, who have been sent to Australia, must be sent to the Prisoners of War Information Bureau, Melbourne?
§ Mr. PeakeBecause this is the address which has been notified by the Australian Government as that to which all letters for internees transferred to Australia from this country should be sent.