102. Mr. G. Jeģerasked the Secretary of State for War why three large houses in Brownhill Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, at present occupied by Italian prisoners, cannot be released for native occupation and the Italians placed in local camps which are not fully occupied.
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§ Mr. Lawson:The Italian prisoners of war occupying these three large houses are part of a working company and have to be housed near their work. It would not be practicable to house the prisoners in either of the two camps in the neighbourhood. One is a Ministry of Works camp for civilian workers and the other is part of the Southampton Transit Camp. Like other transit camps the numbers in the Southampton camp fluctuate continually; it will not therefore be full all the time but this does not necessarily mean that the accommodation is surplus. I am unable to forecast a date when the houses will be released, but it is unlikely to be before July.