§ Mr. Stokesasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs why Walter Ingber, who has been a prisoner-of-war in this country since 1944, and who applied for repatriation to Portuguese East Africa on 29th February, 1948, with the full approval of the Portuguese authorities, is still being detained in this country and prevented from joining his wife who is at present resident in Portugal.
§ Mr. MayhewApproval was given on 10th September to Walter Ingber's repatriation to Portugal in view of the compassionate circumstances to which my hon. Friend refers. Ingber's application, which was first received in the Foreign Office in June, 1948, made no mention of the compassionate circumstances involved. This omission occasioned delay in granting the necessary permission.