§ Mr. WareingTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many cases involving casualties of the Bari harbour mustard gas disaster in 1943 have been investigated by his Department with a view to the possible payment of war pensions; how many pensions have been made payable; and what the criteria have been for such payments.
§ Miss WiddecombeThe information is not available in the form requested. Of the 693 casualties known to have arisen from the Bari harbour incident, 161 were killed or declared missing. Information on how many war widows' pensions resulted is not available.
A special exercise in 1986–87 to trace the remainder showed that 185 claims for war pension had been made, of which 106 were successful.
As with all claims for war pension, awards are made where disablement or death is due to service in the armed 64W forces or, for those who served in the merchant navy or were members of the naval auxilary, where disablement or death is directly attributable to a war injury or a war risk injury.