§ Lord Irwinasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has considered the position of released prisoners of war who nave suffered hardship in prison camps and who, after an interval of six months, are eligible for service in the Far East; if consideration has been given by his medical advisers to this question; whether, in the event of these men being captured by the Japanese it might have a lasting effect on their mental and physical health; and with what result.
§ Sir J. GriggI would refer my Noble and gallant Friend to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for London University (Sir E. Graham-Little) on 3rd May. The majority of ex-prisoners of war will be in the release groups up to 26 and will not be sent to the Far East. Those who are, will only be sent if they are passed medically fit for service in that theatre.