§ Colonel Ropnerasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the shortage of labour in the Selby district of Yorkshire, arrangements can be made to enlarge the prisoners of war camp at Brayton.
§ Sir J. GriggI understand that the shortage of civilian building labour is at present so severe that it will not be possible to enlarge this camp.
§ Sir J. Mellorasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered a letter, dated 26th October, from the Meriden Rural District Council with regard to Italian prisoners of war; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Sir J. GriggThe letter referred to by my hon. Friend was answered on 2nd November. Prisoners of war may only be employed on limited types of work. It was therefore decided to take the opportunity offered by the Italian Armistice to accept certain of the Italian prisoners of war as volunteers for any employment. I understand that on the average their output is higher than that of ordinary prisoners of war. They have eased our man-power difficulties and their work has been a valuable contribution to the war effort. It seemed only reasonable to grant to these men certain privileges not available to non-co-operators. These include:
Any breaches of the regulations governing their behaviour should be reported to the Commandant of the Camp to which they belong. He will, take the necessary disciplinary action, but he cannot do so unless the facts are reported to him and he certainly ought not to do so unless the facts reported are verifiable. In the case of the letter from the Meriden Rural District Council some of the facts are vague general statements. Such statements as are specific are not borne out by the evidence so far furnished to me officially. I may add that co-operators are not allowed in public transport in off-duty periods.
- (a) freedom to exercise within 5 miles of their camps.
- (b) entry to shops and cinemas. The numbers entering cinemas are controlled in consultation with the cinema managers and police.
- (c) the payment of part of their pay in sterling.
1817 - (d) the use of cycles in off-duty periods with their employers' permission.
- (e) permission to talk to civilians and accept invitations to visit private houses.
Mr. A. Duckworthasked the Minister of Agriculture whether he is satisfied with the discipline of Italian prisoners of war used to assist agricultural operations in Shropshire.