HC Deb 13 December 1961 vol 651 cc442-4
35. Sir Richard Pilkington

asked the Secretary of State for War what steps he is taking in connection with pensions for Polish and other foreign personnel, who fought from this country during the war, for whom he has retained responsibility.

Mr. Profumo

Since the war, successive administrations have felt unable to agree that these officers and men should be awarded pensions for which they did not qualify under British Service rules. I regret I can see no grounds for changing that policy now.

Sir Richard Pilkington

Has my right hon. Friend had any further representations on this matter recently? Does he really think that these men who gave so much in the cause of freedom have had a fair deal?

Mr. Profumo

I have had approaches, particularly an approach to support a charity to this end, in the recent past, and we gave it some consideration. As to whether these gallant men have been treated fairly, that is a matter on which I should not like to pronounce. I do not know that one can treat people who have behaved in this way in the war—indeed, as gallantly as our own Service people—in the way one would like to do. I do not think that we could give to these people preferential treatment beyond what British ex-Service men have by way of pension for war services.

Mr. Paget

But nobody is asking for preferential treatment. What was said at the time was that the breach with their own country was probably temporary and, therefore, we would not bring them in and make them eligible for our war pensions. Now that it has become plain that that breach is permanent, would it not be reasonable and generous, and fair recognition of the very gallant services rendered, to treat them as our own people?

Mr. Profumo

I have paid what I thought was an adequate tribute to the way in which these gallant people served the cause of freedom. I am second to none in the tribute which I pay to them. This matter has been examined by successive Governments since the end of the war and I do not think the circumstances have changed in such a way as to make it possible to review the policy, as my hon. Friend has asked in this specific Question. If it is wished to bring forward further information I shall be only too glad to look at it, but it would be wrong for me to mislead my hon. Friend and the House into thinking that the inquiries which we have carried out so far would lead me to make any change.