HC Deb 21 October 1952 vol 505 cc91-4W
102. Mr. Teeling

asked the Minister of Pensions if the new plan for distributing Japanese assets in the United Kingdom gives less or more financial assistance to civilian internees in the Far East than the plan as announced in this House in July, 1951.

Mr. Amory

Under the scheme announced in July, 1951, only those who were in need would have received help from the benevolent organisations selected to distribute the money, and it is not possible to estimate the numbers who would have qualified or the amount which they would have received. The process of distribution must necessarily have been a long-term one.

The present scheme, which is confined to persons who had been prisoners of war or civilian internees in Japanese hands, gives civilian internees from the Far East a per capita share on the same lines as ex-prisoners of war from the fighting Services. It is, therefore, more beneficial to the majority of civilian internees than the previous scheme.

Mr. J. Hynd

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make a statement concerning the arrangements for the payment of compensation of ex-prisoners of war in Japan and their dependants.

Mr. Amory

A Motion on the subject of the disposal of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom was moved in this House on the 10th May, 1951. This Motion had been signed by 297 Members representative of all parties. It asked that the Government should give very early consideration to the claim of the British Far Eastern prisoners of war and the dependants of those who died in captivity for compensation from the Japanese, through Treaty or by other methods, on similar lines to the action already taken by the United States Government or that decided upon by the Australian Government. This Motion was accepted by the House.

Subsequently, two Articles were included in the Japanese Peace Treaty. Article 16 provided for the transfer of Japanese assets from neutral or ex-enemy countries to the International Red Cross, who would liquidate such assets and distribute the proceeds to national agencies for the benefit of former prisoners of war and their families. Article 16 will obviously take some time to implement. Article 14, which is the subject of this statement, dealt with Japanese assets in individual Allied countries.

It was announced in the House on behalf of the late Government on 25th July, 1951, that it was proposed that the money obtained from the liquidation of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom should be put at the disposal of selected benevolent organisations, on the understanding that the money should be used primarily for the benefit of prisoners of war and civil internees of the last war and of their dependants who were resident in the United Kingdom at the time of payment.

Her Majesty's Government have recently reviewed this matter and decided that it would be better for the proceeds of Japanese assets in the United Kingdom to be distributed on a per capita basis to Far Eastern prisoners of war and internees in accordance with the intention of the Motion of the 10th May, 1951, and with the declared wishes of the ex-prisoners of war concerned. The Minister of Pensions was made responsible for the distribution.

A working party, consisting of representatives from all the interested Departments, was set up in the Ministry of Pensions to consider the details of the per capita distribution and they had to bear in mind the relatively small sum available, the original purpose of the grants, and the need to get the money distributed as quickly as possible. Representatives of the F.E.P.O.W.s took part in the discussions.

Having regard to the smallness of the sum available, it was felt that qualifications for a grant must be narrow as otherwise the individual payments might be derisory. As Article 14 of the Treaty provided for the liquidation of assets in individual allied countries and as the assets available for distribution in this instance are those realised in the United Kingdom, it was decided that the persons entitled to a share must be British, normally resident in the United Kingdom at the time of capture, and resident in the United Kingdom now. The widows of those who would have qualified had they not died in captivity or since will also be eligible for a grant, but no family unit will receive more than one share.

As the Far Eastern Prisoners of War Association are in touch with the vast majority of ex-members of the Forces who were prisoners, it was decided to take advantage of the offer of that Association to issue application forms to ex-Service personnel. Some 37,000 forms have been sent to the Association and they are now in the process of issuing them.

It is anticipated that under these arrangements the majority of ex-Service prisoners of war will receive forms automatically, but should they not do so before 14th November they have been asked to get into touch with the Headquarters of the National Federation of Far Eastern Prisoners of War Clubs and Associations, 34, Eaton Place, London, S.W.1. Former prisoners of war who are still serving with the Forces will get application forms from their Units.

Automatic distribution of application forms could not be made to ex-members of the Mercantile Marine, officers and men who served on T.124 agreements or variants and civilian internees, as up-to-date addresses were not known. In consequence they have been invited to apply for application forms to the Ministry of Pensions at Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, Westminster, S.W.1.

It has been emphasised that the application forms should be completed and returned as soon as possible, and in any event before 1st December, 1952. (So far some 1,300 civilian and Mercantile Marine applications have been received and already 350 claim forms have been completed and returned.)

The initial per capita share will be £15, based on the distribution of about £850,000, which is the sum so far available from the assets.

The money will be distributed as soon as the completed application forms are received and eligibility has been confirmed. The payments will be made by my Department's Office at Blackpool. It is hoped that the majority of applicants will have received their share by the end of the year.

Another distribution on a per capita basis will be made at a later date, but this will depend on the realisation of further assets, the proceeds of which it is difficult to estimate.