§ Mr. Gammansasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies the exact conditions under which the benefits of the United Kingdom Personal Injuries (Civilian Scheme) can be applied to British citizens who were interned in the Fast East by the Japanese and who suffered severe impairment of mental and physical health in consequence; and whether such benefits can be given to these persons in the Far East, especially in those cases where, if they returned home, they would have no means at all of earning their livelihood.
Mr. Creech JonesBritish citizens who suffered severe impairment of mental and physical health in consequence of internment in the Far East by the Japanese are eligible for consideration by the Ministry of Pensions for the grant of awards in respect of their continuing disablement under special arrangements and on the96W lines of the United Kingdom Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme. The conditions to be satisfied are:
- (a) That they were ordinarily or originally resident in the United Kingdom or, if not so resident, that they have good grounds for being regarded as "belonging to" the United Kingdom: for example, the disabled wife of a British subject who was born in the United Kingdom can be considered although she her self was never previously in the United Kingdom.
- (b) That they are residing in the United Kingdom.
As regards the second part of the Question, the benefits referred to are provided from United Kingdom funds and it is not possible to extend them to persons not actually residing in the United Kingdom.