HC Deb 05 November 1946 vol 428 cc224-5W
119. Mr. C. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for War the total number of Polish troops who have joined, or are eligible for membership of the Polish Resettlement Corps; how many of these are officers and how many other ranks; how many of these, again distinguishing between officers and other ranks, at any time between 1941 and 1945, served in the German army or in the army of any of Germany's allies or satellites; and how many of these received any decorations for such service.

Mr. Bellenger

By 31st October about 3,000 Polish officers had applied for commissions in the Resettlement Corps and 19,000 other ranks had enlisted. With few exceptions all members of the Polish Armed Forces who served under British command are eligible for enlistment. The number still eligible is about 140,000 of whom about 17,000 are officers. About 55,000 Poles served under compulsion for the Germans against us but I cannot give separate figures for officers and other ranks, nor have I any information about German decorations.

120. Mr. C. Smith

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that, before any families of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are accommodated in service camps, the local authority in whose area the camp is situated will receive notification; and that any local authority which will be responsible for providing any services to the families so accommodated will be notified and will have the opportunity, if it so desires, of expressing a view about the proposed additional population.

Mr. Bellenger

Families of members of the Polish Resettlement Corps are accommodated in camps which, as yet, have not been declared surplus to the War Department requirements. Local authorities will not, therefore, be responsible for providing any services for those families, other than the normal services supplied to a camp occupied by troops in the U.K. It is, therefore, unnecessary for the local authorities to receive prior notification of the arrival of Polish families.