§ Mr. Alfred Morrisasked the Prime Minister if she wishes to add to her oral reply to the right hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe on 25 November regarding direct payments from the South Atlantic fund to Service men who were disabled in the Falklands conflict and also the clawback of London weighting allowance from disabled Service men during hospitalisation; and if she will make a statement.
§ The Prime MinisterAs I said on 25 November sums ranging in the main from £2,000 to £20,000 have been paid to the seriously injured. Eighty-one such payments have now been made, the total sum paid is about £400,000. A further £1,500,000 has been given to Service charities so it can be made quickly available to meet any needs which arise among the injured. Further interim payments will be made as appropriate. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Armed Forces has today announced a change in the rules for the payment of the London pay supplement which will be backdated to 1 April 1982.