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Ministry of Defence

Answer

Mr. Bill O'Brien: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Gurkha regiments who were prisoners of the Japanese in the Second World War and their widows will receive compensation; and if he will make a statement. [138618] Dr. Moonie: As I announced on 7 November 2000, Official Report, columns 159-70, the Government are making a single ex gratia payment of £10,000 to each of the surviving members of the British groups who were held prisoner by the Japanese during the Second World War, in recognition of the unique circumstances of their captivity. Those who are eligible to receive this payment include former members of HM Armed Forces who were made prisoners of war. Prior to 1947 there were no Gurkha Regiments in the British Army. The (old) Indian Army, which included Gurkha regiments, was separate from the British Army and responsibility for it passed to the new Governments of India and Pakistan when those countries became independent. Former members of the (old) Indian Army generally did not receive payments under UK auspices under the 1951 San Francisco Treaty of Peace with Japan and are not eligible for the current ex gratia scheme.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

357 c717W; 138618

Session

1999-00

Subjects

Compensation Armed forces Gurkhas Japan World War II Widowed people Prisoners of war

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk