§ Mr. Guyasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any further information regarding the whereabouts of the prisoners of war last heard of, in August, 1943, at the. P.G. 5/4 Camp, Italy.
§ Sir J. GriggIt is possible that this camp was a working camp under the administration of Camp 5. Several such638W camps were formed in June and July of last year, but details of the camps and the names of the prisoners sent there have never reached us. After the Italian Armistice, as my hon. Friend is aware, the Germans transferred a large number of British prisoners from the parts of Italy they occupy to Germany and notifications of such transfers are still being received. The next-of-kin are informed as soon as such notifications reach the War Office.
§ Major Leightonasked the Secretary of State for War whether a prisoner of war who, while in captivity, completes 14 years' service is entitled to an increase in pay.
§ Sir J. GriggI assume the Question refers to the grant of long service and good conduct pay, which is awarded under certain conditions to soldiers who have completed' 13 years' service. A soldier is not considered for this award so long as he remains a prisoner of war, but if his eligibility is confirmed within 3 months from his repatriation he is granted the appropriate pay with retrospective effect to the date on which he completed the necessary period of service.