COMPENSATION FOR PRISONERS OF WAR UNDER THE JAPANESE

That this House is concerned that 50,000 former prisoners of war of the Japanese were paid a total of ú76.50 each, and 8,800 former civilians were paid ú48.50 each, in compensation by the Japanese government for the damage and suffering caused to them whilst prisoners; regards such compensation as inadequate and agrees with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister, the honourable Member for Eddisbury, who on 8th October 1992 wrote `This country owes them a great debt of gratitude'; and calls on Her Majesty's Government urgently to create an adequate scheme of compensation for these former prisoners.