§ 42. Mr. G. Hutchinsonasked the Secretary of State for War how many British military prisoners of war captured in the fighting in Korea are now known to be in the hands of the Chinese Government; and whether he can make any statement about the treatment of these men by the Chinese authorities.
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§ Mr. StracheyNo British Army prisoners have been officially reported by the North Korean or Chinese authorities. From information received from unofficial sources eight officers and 145 other ranks are believed to be or are accepted as being prisoners of war. We have received no reliable information regarding their treatment beyond the reports by returned prisoners referred to by my hon. Friend's predecessor in his reply to the hon. Member for Hornsey (Mr. Gammans) on 28th February, 1951. With regard to the admittance of International Red Cross Committee delegates to North Korea, I regret that I cannot yet add anything to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Maldon (Mr. Driberg) on 8th and 29th May.