HC Deb 05 May 1948 vol 450 cc1245-7
9. Mr. Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will defer submitting the supplementary estimates for the war damage claims for Malaya and Hong Kong to Parliament until the detailed scheme for the payment of claims has been announced.

Mr. Rees-Williams

I would invite the hon. Member's attention to the statements made on Monday, 26th April, m reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid). It will be seen that details of the Malayan war damage compensation schemes are to be announced shortly, whereas the first instalment of assistance from His Majesty's Government will not be requested until 1949. The position as regards Hong Kong is given in paragraphs 2 and 3 of the statement concerning that territory.

Mr. Gammans

Is it not the fact that the Supplementary Estimate has to be laid before this House, and is it not outrageous that we should be asked to pass that Supplementary Estimate without having the least idea of the basis on which compensation is to be paid?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I think the hon. Gentleman made up his supplementary question before he heard my main answer, because it is clear from my answer that the compensation schemes will be known first.

11. Mr. Vernon Bartlett

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the arrangements regarding war damage compensation in Hong Kong provide no compensation for the destruction of personal property; whether he is aware that many persons who lost all their personal possessions have suffered permanent injury to their health in Japanese internment camps and are therefore seriously handicapped in their efforts to re-establish themselves; and why there is so large a discrepancy between the treatment of individuals in Malaya and in Hong Kong.

Mr. Rees-Williams

The reasons for the general policy which has been adopted in Hong Kong with regard to war damage compensation are given in paragraph 2 of the statement relating to Hong Kong circulated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Swindon (Mr. T. Reid) on 26th April. As regards the second part of the Question, it was announced in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, South (Sir J. Lucas), on 30th October, 1945, that British subjects who had been repatriated to this country after release from captivity in the Far Eastern territories, and who intended to remain here permanently, would be eligible for consideration for ex gratia grants for the purchase of furniture and household goods on the lines of, and within the limits of, the free cover provided in the United Kingdom Private Chattels Scheme. My right hon. Friend is now considering, in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade, the extension of this scheme to other British subjects who have suffered hardship through losses of private chattels in the occupied British territories in the Far East, and who have returned to this country and intend to remain here permanently. Neither under the existing scheme nor under this suggested extension would any distinction be drawn between Malayan and Hong Kong claims.

Mr. Bartlett

While thanking the hon. Gentleman for his reply, may I ask if he can say when this consideration to which he referred in the latter part of his answer will be completed?

Mr. Rees-Williams

I could not say when. The matter is now under consideration.

Mr. Bartlett

It has been under consideration for a long time.

Mr. Rees-Williams

We shall expedite it.

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