HC Deb 18 January 1982 vol 16 cc62-3W
Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his Department keeps any statistics which distinguish ex-prisoners of war amongst claims and payments of war pensions and other war related benefits.

Mr. Rossi

The only ex-prisoners of war about whom the Department has ever kept statistics are those taken prisoner in the Far East.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will bring forward proposals to relax the seven-year rule in respect of claims for war pensions in respect of former prisoners of war.

Mr. Rossi

A claim for a war pension can be made at any time. The seven years rule relates to the standard of proof needed, and we have no proposals to relax it for former prisoners of war.

Mr. Rooker

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he receives any regular specialist advice on the health problems of ex-prisoners of war;

(2) if the international relations division of his Department has prepared any comparative data on how the current health of former Far East prisoners of war is monitored amongst World War II allied Powers; and if he will make a statement;

(3) if he will arrange a systematic inquiry into the current health of all known former Far East prisoners of war, in view of the medical evidence of some diseases only showing themselves 35 or more years after the originating circumstances;

(4) if he has received a copy of the report "Long-Term Effects of War Related Deprivation on Health", by Heaf and Patrick prepared at the request of the British Members' Council of the World Veterans Federation; and if he will make a statement;

(5) if his Department has made any study of recent (a) morbidity and (b) mortality rates amongst those persons who had been held as prisoners of war in the Far East during World War II.

Mr. Rossi

The medical staff of the Department keep in close touch with research conducted on the health problems of former Far-Eastern prisoners of war and are aware of monitoring arrangements in other countries. The Department has no studies currently under way on recent morbidity or mortality of former prisoners of war. The report by Dr. Heaf and Dr. Patrick is, however, a useful summary of work on the subject which I have discussed with the authors and am now considering in consultation with representatives of the British Members' Council. Every claim to a war pension for disabilities now manifesting themselves is considered individually, a consultant's opinion obtained where indicated, and the benefit of any doubt given to the ex-Service men. We have no proposals for any further inquiry.

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