Far East Prisoners of War

HC Deb 15 February 2001 vol 363 c196W

Mrs. Lait

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for children of far east internees to receive compensation in cases where neither parent is alive. [150099]

Dr. Moonie

The ex gratia payment scheme, which I announced in the House on 7 November 2000,Official Report, columns 159–70, is for the surviving members of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War. Where a person who would have been eligible for the scheme has died, his or her surviving spouse is entitled to receive it instead. The children of former prisoners are not eligible for the scheme unless they were themselves interned by the Japanese.