§ Mr. Muffasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private L. Bratley, 4341952, D Company, East Yorkshire Regiment, is a prisoner in Italian hands; that the Italian authorities have taken away his uniform; that he and his comrades are short of warm clothing; and will he ask the Protecting Power to take steps to see that British prisoners in Italian hands are provided with adequate clothing?
§ Sir J. GriggI am investigating this matter, and will communicate with my hon. Friend in due course.
Major Lloydasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now received any further information in connection with the fact that our prisoners in German reprisal camps are being deprived of shaving tackle, soap, towels, toothbrushes, brushes and combs, books, etc.; and whether the inquiries of the Protecting Power have brought this form of reprisal to an end?
§ Sir J. GriggMy information shows that reprisals have not been carried out in special reprisal camps but in ordinary prisoner of war camps. As far as I am aware the reprisals referred to have ceased and I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir A. Knox) on 15th December, of which I am sending him a copy.