To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps have been taken to cross-check the names of former German prisoners of war still resident in the UK from the Second World War with the United Nations list of suspected war criminals. (116975)

The UN War Crimes Commission’s lists of suspected war criminals were incorporated into the Central Registry of War Criminals and Security Suspects (CROWCASS) created by the UK and USA in 1945. CROWCASS lists were issued to appropriate UK authorities and war crimes investigators at the time. The 1989 War Crimes Inquiry report also noted that the members of the 14th Waffen SS (Galizien) Division were later checked against the UNWCC lists before their civilianisation, although the report acknowledged that the UNWCC lists included few suspects identified from the territories controlled by the Soviet Union.

It would be an operational matter for the police to consider whether to search any particular records, but it is likely to be of limited evidential value unless conducted in the context of a particular criminal investigation. I understand that the police have searched for former members of the 14th Waffen SS Division still residing in the UK against the extensive database of persons suspected of war crimes held by the US Department of Justice Office of Special Investigations (OSI).

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what police resources are allocated to the investigation of Second World War criminals who may be resident in the UK; and if he will make a statement. (116857)

The Metropolitan police has the lead responsibility in the UK for the investigation of crimes against humanity, including allegations arising from the Second World War. The Crimes Against Humanity Unit has a core staff of two officers and administrative support drawn from the Anti-Terrorist Branch and additional resources are allocated according to operational requirements.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress is being made in identifying former members of the SS Galizien division resident in the UK who are suspected of war crimes in the Second World War; how many former SS Galiziens are resident in the UK; how many of them (a) have been positively cleared of involvement in war crimes and (b) (i) are war crimes suspects, (ii) have been interviewed as to their possible involvement in war crimes, (iii) have known addresses and remain to be interviewed and (iv) have unidentified addresses; what steps are being taken to identify their present whereabouts; and if he will make a statement. (116858)

No specific allegation of war crimes has been received against any former member of the 14th Waffen SS (Galizien) Division resident in the UK. Police inquiries in 2003 indicated that 1,450 ex-Galizien were still resident in the UK. The Metropolitan police visited a sample 13 former members in 2005 to ascertain any information about crimes against humanity but no such crimes were disclosed.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had with the authorities in (a) the USA, (b) Germany, (c) Poland, (d) Hungary, (e) Belarus, (f) Georgia, (g) Russia, (h) Estonia, (i) Latvia, (j) Lithuania, (k) Ukraine, (l) the Czech Republic and (m) Slovakia (i) to establish best practice links and procedures with stakeholders in the prosecution of alleged Nazi war criminals and (ii) to identify alleged Nazi criminals resident in the UK; and if he will make a statement. (116860)

There have not been any recent bi-lateral discussions with the countries listed about alleged Nazi war criminals in the UK, but officials from the Home Office have participated in meetings of the European Network of Contact Points on genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes, most recently in May 2006, to exchange information and best practice with our European partners. Police investigators and prosecutors may also seek assistance from authorities in other countries to identify and prosecute war criminals using established procedures for police and judicial co-operation.

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department pursuant to the letter of 11 August from the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Hendon, what progress has been made to ascertain from the German authorities whether any German pensions paid to UK residents have been withdrawn on suspicion that the recipient was involved with war crimes in the Second World War; and if he will make a statement. (116869)

The Metropolitan Police made a request to the German authorities to establish whether they could supply details of any person in the UK whose pension had been withdrawn because of involvement in war crimes, but no information has been received to date.