HC Deb 30 November 1971 vol 827 cc50-1W
43. Mr. Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what survey has been made of the incidence of ill health among ex-Far East prisoners of war.

Mr. Dean

A survey was recently completed at the Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, of the effects of captivity on the nervous and liver systems of ex-Far Eastern prisoners of war treated at the hospital between 1946 and 1968.

69. Mr. Wallace

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will do as is done in Australia, Canada and New Zealand and make arrangements whereby, on the death of an ex-Far East prisoner of war, the widow receives automatically extra payment beyond the rate of widow's pension.

Mr. Dean

Every widow whose husband dies as a result of his war service receives a war widow's pension which is paid at a special preferential rate. In deciding claims full account is taken of the effects of the hardships endured by Far East prisoners of war but I do not think it would be right to award a war widow's pension where death is not connected with service.