Viscountess Astorasked the Secretary of State for War whether British service men who are prisoners receive a cash allowance equivalent to their pay while interned in Germany?
§ Mr. SandysThe Prisoners of War Convention, 1929, lays down that the detaining Power shall pay to officer prisoners of war either their own rate of pay or the rate of corresponding ranks of the detaining Power's own forces, whichever is less. On this basis British officers in Germany receive the German rates of pay for the corresponding ranks, and the balance is credited to the officer's account in this country. No pay is issued by the detaining Power to other rank prisoners unless they are employed on work, and, so far as British prisoners are concerned, the full pay of their rank in issue at the time of capture continues to be credited to them. An exception to the general rule is made in the case of medical and other protected personnel who receive from the German Government the pay of the equivalent German ranks.
§ Sir W. Smithersasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the advisability of setting up an inter-departmental committee of the Foreign Office, Navy, Army, and Air Force, and the Red Cross, to deal with all questions affecting prisoners of war; and will he take the necessary steps to put that committee under the chairmanship of a representative of the Foreign Office?
§ The Prime MinisterI would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for South Kensington (Sir W. Davison) on 14th October, of which I am sending him a copy. Close and continuous liaison is maintained between the War Organisation of the British Red Cross and the Departments concerned, and representatives of the organisations frequently attend meetings of the Sub-Committees of the Imperial Prisoners of War Committee. As regards the second part of the Question, it has been decided that, in view of the 329W importance of securing reciprocity of treatment, the War Office which is responsible for the administration of enemy prisoners of war, and for implementing the terms of the Geneva Convention in relation to them, is the Department best suited to assume general responsibility for likewise watching over the interests and rights of British prisoners in enemy hands. It has therefore been thought appropriate that the chairman of the Committee should be a War Office representative.
Viscountess Astorasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Foreign Office is represented on the Imperial Prisoners of War Committee?
§ Mr. EdenI am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply given on 14th October by my right hon. and gallant Friend the
Accommodation, etc., to be provided. Rates payable. Class 1. (a) Officers:— 3s. od. a night for the first officer and 2s. od. A night for each additional officer. Loading and attendance. Note.— An officer will pay for his food. (b) Soldiers:— 10d. a night for the first soldier and 8d. a night for each additional soldier. Loading and attendance where meals are furnished. Breakfast as specified in Part 1 of the Second Schedule to the Army Act. 9d. each. Dinner as so specified 1s. 2d. each. Supper as so specified 5d. each. Where no meals furnished, loading and attendance, and the means and the necessary utensils for the preparation and cooking of his food. 10d. a night for the first soldier and 8d. a night for each additional soldier. Class 11. Soldiers:— Loading (with bed and attendance) when no meals and no cooking facilities are required; for each soldier. 6d. a night. Class III Officers and soldiers:— Unfurnished accommodation in occupied premises, for each officer or soldier. 2d. a night Unfurnished accommodation in otherwise unoccupied premises; for each officer or soldier. 1d. a night.