asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are engaged in Germany in dealing with applications for the com passionate release of German prisoners of war; whether these members of the staff of the Control Commission have other duties as well; and whether, owing to the hardship inflicted by the long delay in dealing with cases, he will revise the machinery set up, with the object of making it efficient for its purpose.

This work is very largely in the hands of the German local authorities, and we are endeavouring to speed up their arrangements. The main reason why there is delay, however, is that the quota of 500 a month is filled, so that many have to wait. I am glad to say that this quota will be increased to 1,500 a month in October, and that we shall be sending back 2,000 extra cases in the next three months in order to clear off the backlog.