§ 92 and 93. Mr. Teelingasked the Secretary of State for War (1) how many people are involved in the claims, and how much compensation has been claimed for non-permanent officers and men who arrived in Burma after 3rd September, 1939;
(2) whether he is yet in a position to state what decision has been reached about compensation for non-permanent officers and men who arrived in Burma after 3rd September, 1939.
§ Mr. StracheyOfficers and men, whether Regular or not, who proceeded to Burma after 3rd September, 1939, are treated alike as regards compensation for loss of personal effects owing to enemy action in Burma. Twenty-six claims in this category have been received, but as some of the claimants have not submitted details the total amount involved cannot be stated. A decision regarding compensation for these officers and men has now been reached, and I propose to circulate a statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
Following is the statement:
It has now been decided to make ex-gratia grants of compensation for loss of personal effects, owing to enemy action in Burma, to all British Army officers and men (Regulars and others) who proceeded to that country after 3rd September, 1939. It covers not only members of British Army units, but also British Army officers and men seconded to, or attached to, the Burma Forces or to Indian Army units in Burma.
There are limits to the amount of compensation which may be paid: they are:
£ Colonels and above 250 Lieutenant-Colonels and Majors 200 Captains and below 150 Other ranks 100 Within these amounts not more than a total of £25 will be paid in respect of luxury items. Claims for the loss of a motor car will be specially considered on their merits, and where they are allowed, the limits may be extended.
35WThe limits, which cover any interim payments already made, are different from those which applied to officers and men who went abroad before 3rd September, 1939. The higher limits approved in those cases, were designed to cover family and household effects of married men; but in the case of men who went abroad after the outbreak of the war, when families would not have been taken, the limits are based on what is considered reasonable for a single man. Any cases in which, exceptionally, families were allowed to go to the stations concerned will be specially considered. Similar arrangements have been approved for losses in other Far Eastern territories overrun by the enemy.