§ Sir John FarrTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will reconsider the claims made by ex-prisoners of war, who were involved in the building of the Siam to Burma railway in 1941, in relation to their treatment by the Japanese at that time.
§ Mr. SainsburyNo. The question of compensation for the suffering and damage caused by Japan during the war was dealt with in the 1951 treaty of peace with Japan. While recognising the very great debt owed by this country to those who fought against the Japanese, there are no grounds to reopen the issue now.