§ Mr. Bensonasked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a further statement on the subject of the compensation to be paid to British subjects for war losses of private chattels in the British and former British territories in the Far East.
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§ Mr. H. WilsonYes. The Government have decided to make limited ex gratia payments to United Kingdom British subjects in respect of losses of furniture and other personal goods in the territories in question as a result of the Japanese occupation. The following is an outline of the scheme:
EXTENDED FAR EASTERN PRIVATE CHATTELS SCHEME (WAR DAMAGE)
(1) The scheme will apply to United Kingdom British subjects who return to the United Kingdom from Hong Kong, the territories now forming part of the Federation of Malaya, Singapore, North Borneo, Sarawak, Brunei, the British Solomon Islands Protectorate, the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony and Burma. Such persons may apply for grants under the scheme provided that, prior to the Japanese invasion of those territories, they were resident therein, and on their return to this country intend to set up home permanently in the United Kingdom. In the case of persons who have not yet returned permanently to the United Kingdom but who propose to return at a future date, payment will be deferred until such time as they do so.
(2) The scheme will not apply to any person who, in respect of his losses in any of the above territories, is entitled to compensation under any other compensation scheme operated by a United Kingdom Government Department.
(3) The losses must have been directly attributable to circumstances connected with the war, including the enemy occupation of the country and the breakdown of organised government consequent on imminent Japanese occupation or British liberation.
(4) The scheme does not cover losses of cash, securites, profit or generally consequential loss.
(5) The limits of compensation are as follow:
£ Householder, unmarried 300 Householder, married 450 Every child under 16 years of age at 8th December, 1941, who was a member of the household 35 Any other person over 16 years of age 75 For this purpose the expressions "household" and "householder" will be construed with regard to the special conditions in the territories in question.
(6) Any grant awarded under this scheme will be reduced by the amount of any compensation received in respect of losses from any of the Governments of the territories mentioned in paragraph 1 above.
(7) Grants already made to applicants under the existing scheme relating to former internees will be deducted from any amounts payable under the extended scheme.
(8) Application forms, which provide for a statutory declaration to be made by the claimant, may be obtained from the Assistant Secretary Board of Trade, Insurance and 66W Companies Department (Far Eastern Private Chattels), Romney House, Tufton Street, London, S.W.1.