Mr. Graham Whiteasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why British subjects who have succeeded in escaping from German internment camps in France are charged, on their arrival in this country, with expenses to cover their cost of living in neutral territory and transport home?
§ Mr. George HallIt is not the policy of His Majesty's Government to meet the expenses of British subjects staying or travelling in a private capacity in foreign countries. His Majesty's consular officers in neutral countries and the representatives of the Protecting Powers in enemy and enemy occupied countries have, however, authority in suitable cases to advance funds for this purpose against signed undertakings to repay on demand. The claims are not pressed where the debtors are genuinely unable to repay even by instalments. In many cases, however, the debtors have ample funds in this country and are only too anxious to refund the advances made to them.