Mr. E. P. Smithasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is in a position to give any information as to the whereabouts of the 49 British prisoners of war who left Stalag 21D on 13th October to be repatriated and have since disappeared?
§ Mr. George HallWe did not receive from Germany the full number of those whom the German Government had given us to understand would be repatriated. The question was at once taken up with the German Government who replied that the deficiency was entirely due to technical reasons, and gave a formal undertaking that those not sent would be given priority in the next repatriation of seriously sick and wounded prisoners. If the hon. Member will give me all the information he possesses about the party from Stalag XXI D, I shall be grateful, as it will be valuable in connection with further representations to the German Government.
§ Mr. Leslie Boyceasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he is now in a position to make a statement regarding the prospect of further contingents of British prisoners of war being repatriated in the near future?
§ Mr. HallI am not yet in a position to make any statement. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that it is our firm intention, subject to agreement with the German Government, to proceed with further repatriations of seriously sick and seriously wounded prisoners of war and of protected personnel as soon as possible.