§ 20. Sir J. Smythasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is now in a position to make a statement about the disposal of the United Kingdom share of the balance of the assets under Article 16 of the Peace Treaty with Japan and of any further sum which has become available under Article 14.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir. We have received a further £196,000 under Article 16, including £24,000 due to members of the Colonial Forces, and a further £22,000 under Article 14.
I paid over £182,000 at the end of last month to the Far Eastern (Prisoners of War and Internees) Fund. This brings the total paid to this Fund up to £326,000.
Among the objects provided under the Fund's Trust deed, as I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 26th January, 1959, is the provision of accommodation, etc., for aged and sick former Far Eastern prisoners of war. I understand that in the light of the provision of this further sum, the trustees are discussing with the British Legion arrangements for such accommodation in British Legion homes.
§ Sir J. SmythDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the statement he has just made brings this matter, which first came before the House ten years ago, to a very satisfactory conclusion, on which I know that the Far Eastern prisoners of war would like to express their gratitude to the Minister and to the officials of the old Ministry of Pensions and of the present Ministry for all the hard work they have done? May I ask my right hon. Friend if he will let me know, in round figures, the total amount that has been received for the benefit of the Far Eastern prisoners of war from the Japanese assets under the articles of the Treaty, and from the Burma-Siam Railway?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI can do better than that, and give my hon. Friend the precise figure, which is £4,816,473 15s. 9d.