HC Deb 18 February 1970 vol 796 cc146-7W
Mr. Neave

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what has been the total cost of maintaining and guarding the major Nazi war criminals at Spandau Prison, Berlin, since the sentences imposed by the International Military Tribunal in 1946 under four-Power agreement; and what has been the cost to the United Kingdom until the present date;

(2) what is the annual cost of maintaining Spandau Prison, Berlin, under four-Power agreement; what is the cost of guarding it with only one prisoner; and what contribution is made to the total cost by each of the four occupying Powers.

Mr. Luard

The cost of maintaining Spandau Prison is borne by the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany as a charge to the Berlin Occupation Budget. The direct cost to British public funds is limited to the salaries of the five British warders, which amount at present to some £7,000 a year. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in reply to a Question on 4th February, our Spandau military guard commitment is not a charge on public funds. The cost to the other occupying Powers of guarding Hess is not known to us.—[Vol. 795, c. 130.]