HC Deb 17 June 1947 vol 438 cc1786-7
42. Mr. Driberg

asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a number of disabled Polish soldiers formerly domiciled in the Argentine, whence they came voluntarily to enlist in the Allied Forces, have been unable to rejoin their wives and families in the Argentine and are still held, nine months after their original demobilisation, at a Polish convalescent depot near Newbury; whether disability pension is paid to these men now and will be paid to them when they are eventually repatriated to the Argentine; and if he will take immediate steps to remedy this hardship.

Mr. Bellenger

These disabled Polish soldiers have been unable to rejoin their families owing to the refusal of the Argentine authorities to allow them to disembark. 'They have, therefore, been returned to this country and re-absorbed into the Polish Land Forces. For the present they are continuing to be paid as members of these Forces and the question of disability pension does not arise. The issue of disability pensions to them when they are discharged from the Polish Forces would be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions to consider. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary as to what action can be taken to obtain permission for them to return to the Argentine.

Mr. Driberg

Is my right hon. Friend aware that these unfortunate men were actually sent to the Argentine last autumn and that, merely because they were disabled through war service in the Allied cause, they were not allowed to land, but were sent right back to this country where they have been in a convalescent depot ever since, and will he take most urgent steps to deal with this matter?

Mr. Bellenger

Yes, Sir; I am well aware of that, and I am doing all I can to persuade the Argentine Government to accept them.

Mr. Drayson

Will the Secretary of State for War take advantage of the presence in this country of Senora Peron to bring to her notice this very distressing case, in which event I hope he will have more success than the Foreign Secretary had with Mr. Stalin concerning the British wives in Moscow?

Mr. Bellenger

Certainly, I shall be delighted to make the acquaintance of this lady, and I feel confident that if only I can meet her. I shall have considerable success.

Mr. Scollan

If the Minister meets this lady, would he ask her a further question, and ascertain whether she would not take the whole of the Polish troops we now have in Scotland?

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Has the right hon. Gentleman visited this camp, and is he satisfied that something is being done to maintain the spirit of its inhabitants, because from what I have seen of them wandering about in the vicinity they look utterly miserable and feel completely dejected.

Mr. Bellenger

I have not visited the camp myself, but I will certainly cause inquiries to be made.