§ 89. Dr. Comynsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is now in a position to reply to the letter sent to him on 8th March, 1946, followed by reminders on 27th March, 24th April and 7th May, by the London and Counties Medical Protection Society, on the subject of payments to members of C.D. services in Malaya and Hong Kong.
§ Mr. George HallI regret to say that there has been some delay in sending the reply. The letter of 8th March raised two general issues affecting. a number of individuals and involving another Government Department and expenditure of Government funds. Decisions have now been reached on both these points and a full reply is on its way to the Society. The letters of 27th March, 24th April and 7th May referred to an individual case. The reply in this case was despatched on 9th May.
§ 90. Dr. Comynsasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why, in deciding to make ex gratia payments equivalent to accrued pay, at the rate appropriate to the rank of the individual, in the case of those members of the C.D. services of Malaya and Hong Kong who were prisoners of war in Japanese hands it was necessary to make a deduction of TO per cent.; and why it was necessary to make a maximum of £1,500 in any one case.
§ Mr. George HallThe deduction was made on account of local taxation, which would have been payable if the territory had not been occupied by the Japanese, and salaries had been issued as they fell due. It has, however, now been decided that no deduction should be made in respect of any payment up to £1,250. The maximum of £1,500 was imposed because it was considered that this was the maximum payment which could be justified to a purely temporary official from Government funds as anex gratia grant in respect of his period of internment by the Japanese.