HC Deb 28 May 1946 vol 423 cc174-5W
111. Mr. Stokes

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give a list of the prisoner-of-war camps in Germany and Belgium, stating the number of prisoners detained in each and the caloric value of their rations as at 1st March, 1946.

Mr. Lawson

Following is a list of the prisoner-of-war camps in Germany and Belgium together with the numbers of prisoners in each camp on nth May, 1946

elsewhere for five and six years or more, respectively; how many prisoners have been repatriated; whether any decision has yet been reached respecting systematic repatriation; whether he will arrange for good conduct and service between now and next winter to ensure speedier repatriation; and what further measures are likely to be taken to avoid deterioration in morale among those prisoners who will be detained in this country indefinitely.

Mr. Lawson

Some 4,000 German prisoners of war had been captured by May, 1941. I regret that I have no information as to the numbers of those prisoners still in captivity. The total number of German prisoners repatriated during and since the war is 36,279. Anti-Nazi prisoners and sick will continue to be repatriated but no scheme for general repatriation is under consideration. The suggestion that good conduct and service should be taken into account will be borne in mind when the time comes for an extension of the present limited programme of repatriation. The provision of additional inducements to work is already under consideration.