Oral Answers to Questions — Prisoners of War – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 8 July 1947.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
12:00,
8 July 1947
asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will arrange for those prisoners of war in the Middle East who have experience in agriculture and who wish to volunteer for work in Britain on the same basis as their fellow prisoners already in this country to do this as their turn for repatriation comes round.
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
No, Sir. I do not consider this would be practicable.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
Is my hon. Friend not aware that it is unfair for prisoners of war in the Middle East to be denied the same facilities for staying here to work in agriculture as are accorded these prisoners who are among us here?
Mr John Freeman
, Watford
It is not solely a question of those who wish to remain here, but of suitability. In the case of prisoners in this country, the farmers with whom they are billeted apply for their retention. That would obviously not be practicable in the Middle East.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
