Far East Prisoners of War (Hansard, 24 November 2000)

§ Mr. Bayley

The administration of the ex-gratia payment scheme for British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War is a matter for the Chief Executive of the War Pensions Agency, Gordon Hextall. He will write to the hon. Member.

Letter from Gordon Hextall to Mr. Paul Burstow, dated 22 November 2000: I am responding to your question about when the detailed arrangements for claiming the Far East prisoners of war compensation will be published. I should explain that the payments which we are making on the government's behalf are known as ex-gratia payments rather than compensation. I am pleased to advise you that the War Pensions Agency has already published information on the arrangements for claiming the ex-gratia payment for people who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. The Agency published a Press release prior to Remembrance weekend to be distributed to the media giving details of entitlement and how to claim. Many BBC local radio stations have, in the past week or so, publicised the scheme on air. In addition, the ex-Service organisations are using their widespread network of contacts to bring the scheme to the attention of those who may benefit. The Agency's War Pensioners' Welfare Service is also distributing information on the scheme to local media and other contacts. Overseas Departments of Veterans' Affairs (e.g. Australia and Canada) have also agreed to circulate information throughout their offices. We have also published a claim form and a leaflet giving guidance on the Scheme. Copies of the claim form can be obtained by any of the following methods: phoning the War Pensions Agency's Helpline on 0800 1692277 faxing the War Pensions Agency on 01253 332014 writing to the War Pensions Agency, Norcross, Blackpool FY5 3WP by accessing the website www.dss.gov.uk/wpa/index.htm sending an e-mail to warpensions@gtnet.gov.uk contacting the War Pensioners' Welfare Service—the local telephone directory gives the number to call Copies of the claim form can also be obtained from The Royal British Legion by writing to: RBL, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY or by phoning: Legionline 0845 7725 725 350W There are five categories of person who are entitled to make a claim for this ex-gratia payment. These are:

(a) surviving former members of HM Armed Forces who were held as Japanese prisoners of war in the Far East during the Second World War;
(b) surviving former Service personnel who received payments after the Treaty of Peace with Japan in 1951. These were certain members of the then colonial forces, Indian Army and Burmese Armed Forces;
(c) surviving members of the Merchant Navy who were imprisoned by the Japanese in the Far East during the Second World War. For the purposes of the scheme, a member of the Merchant Navy is a person who has been employed, or engaged as, or for service as, a mariner in a British ship;
(d) surviving British civilians who were interned by the Japanese in the Far East during the Second World War; and
(e) the surviving widow or widower of a person who would otherwise have been entitled under category a), b), c) or d) above, providing they were still married at the time of death.

I hope this is helpful, if you need any further information, I will be happy to assist.