§ Colonel Burtonasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has any authenticated details of British prisoners of war, other than the case of the 50 airmen, who have been shot by the enemy since their capture.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for East Rhondda (Mr. Mainwaring) on 3rd August. Since then, in addition to the 50 airmen referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend, 33 further such deaths have been reported from Germany. In 27 cases the men are alleged to have been shot while they were attempting to escape. Inquiry is made through the Protecting Power as soon as information of the violent death of a prisoner of war is received and, whenever appropriate, the strongest protests are made through the Protecting Power. Such protests have been made in these 33 cases, and, of course, an account of them 45W is being kept for reference to the War Criminals Commission when the war is over.