§ 115 and 116. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) if he is aware of the hardship caused to German ex-prisoners of war, repatriated to Germany, by delay in paying the money owing to them for work done in Britain during their imprisonment; approximately how many of them are still 116W awaiting such payment; and if he will expedite it;
(2) if he is aware that the sum of £29 6s. is owing to Herr Fritz Walter Lange, of Destouchesstrasse 40/0, (13B) Munich 23, U.S. zone of Germany, for work done while a prisoner of war in Britain, that Herr Lange was repatriated and released in June last, and that he was informed by the Landeszentralbank, Munich, on 6th September that the bank had been advised by the Oberfinanzpräsident, Hamburg, that British Military Government had suspended payment of money owing to ex-prisoners of war; and if he will take immediate steps to correct this injustice and to pay the marks owing to this man and to others in like cases.
§ Mr. MayhewCurrency reform upset the previous arrangements for making these payments in Germany and 7,879 prisoners were discharged before payments at the British Discharge Centre were resumed on 23rd August. Their sterling certificates will shortly be cashed by the German local authorities under a procedure being worked out tripartitely. It was unfortunately impossible to make the necessary arrangements in advance owing to the need for secrecy.