§ 72. Major Sir Jocelyn Lucasasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give an assurance that repatriated internees from the Far East, in need of medical, optical or dental treatment as a result of their captivity in Japanese camps, will be entitled to the same free treatment in or at E.M.S. hospitals as they would be if they had been repatriated to England or Wales; and if, where medical charges have been collected from internees or their relatives, these will be refunded.
§ Mr. WestwoodPersons repatriated from the Far East are given the same service and conditions in Scotland as in England and Wales. There has never been any difference and if the hon. and gallant Member will give me particulars I will gladly look into any case which makes him think otherwise. If I find that any medical charges have been collected they will certainly be refunded.
§ Sir J. LucasIs my right hon. Friend aware that his answer will give great satisfaction but at the same time his Department did write and tell me the arrangements were not the same? However, all is well now.
§ Mr. WestwoodMy Department also wrote, and so did the Under-Secretary, asking the hon. and gallant Member to give examples of where there were differences in treatment, and the only case given was from Berwick-on-Tweed which, in accordance with Scottish geography, is is England and not in Scotland.