§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Defence how much help has so far been given by the South 84W Atlantic fund to Service men and Merchant Navy personnel who were severely disabled in the Falklands conflict and/or their dependants.
§ Mr. WigginThe King George's fund for sailors, the Army benevolent fund, and the RAF benevolent fund have each received £250,000 to be used specifically to meet any short-term needs which have arisen. Other charities have received similar payments totalling a further £750,000; and over 200 charities have been told that the South Atlantic fund will reimburse them for any payments they make to those who suffered because of the conflict.
§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Secretary of State for Defence what information his Department has made available to the South Atlantic fund about the special needs of Service men and Merchant Navy personnel who were severely disabled in the Falklands conflict and their dependants.
§ Mr. WigginA full breakdown of all those injured and the extent of their injuries has been made available to the trustees. The information provided is up to date but in some cases the full extent of injuries will not be known for some time as it will depend upon the response of the individual to treatment.
§ Mr. Dalyellasked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis interim payments were made to the families, bereaved by deaths in the Falklands, or facing the problems of caring for the wounded.
§ Mr. WigginThe payments paid to the next of kin of those who were killed were designed to meet all immediate needs resulting from their bereavement. Those who were wounded are all still in the Armed Forces and so continue to receive pay. It is therefore unlikely they will have any short-term financial needs but £1.5 million has been paid into Service charities to enable them to meet in full any cases which arise. These sums are considered to be adequate to meet all immediate needs.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to speed up the distribution of funds from the South Atlantic fund to widows of those killed and to men wounded in the Falkland Islands conflict.
§ Mr. WigginI am confident that the steps already taken by the trustees are adequate to meet all immediate needs of widows and those who were wounded; and that the trustees' plans will ensure that all long-term needs will be met in full.
§ Mr. Foulkesasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service and Merchant Navy personnel involved in the Falklands operation have subsequently received treatment for, or reported symptoms of, anxiety, depression, insomnia and other psychological problems or psychiatric disorders; and how many Service personnel involved in the operation have subsequently applied for discharge from the Service.
§ Mr. BlakerSeventeen Service personnel were treated only for battle shock and related complaints during the operation. In addition 45 other personnel who were treated for other injuries also received some treatment for battle shock. A small number of those involved in the operation have been treated for psychological complaints since returning to the United Kingdom, although it is not possible to say how many of these were directly attributable to the fighting.
85WIt is not possible to say how many of those involved in the operation have subsequently applied to leave the Services. The Services receive about 400 applications for premature discharge every month but we cannot say how many of these in recent months have been from personnel who served in the South Atlantic. There has been no appreciable change in the overall numbers applying for premature discharge since the operation.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many reservists were called up for each of the Services as a result of the hostilities in the Falkland Islands; and how many personnel were retained in each Service beyond their normal date of discharge, distinguishing in each case between officers and men and describing their particular specialisations.
§ Mr. WigginA total of four officers and 20 ratings were called up; 50 officers and 255 ratings were retained beyond their normal date of discharge.
§ Mr. Trotterasked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Argentine prisoners were taken in the Falkland Islands.
§ Mr. BlakerSome 11,400 Argentine prisoners were taken during the Falkland Islands operation.