Ombudsman levels severe criticism at MOD over WWII internees compensation scheme
13 July 2005
Press release 07/05
Some of the British people interned in appalling conditions by the Japanese during World War II suffered injustice because of decisions by the Ministry of Defence, according to a report out today from the Parliamentary Ombudsman, Ann Abraham.
The way the MOD’s ex-gratia compensation scheme was devised, announced and implemented fell short of the standards of public administration that citizens are entitled to expect from public bodies, Ms Abraham says. Established to fulfil a “debt of honour” to those interned because they were British, the scheme criteria changed at a late stage. The new criterion meant that approximately 1000 British subjects who had no close “bloodlink” to the UK became ineligible for compensation.
The Ombudsman made a series of recommendations to the Ministry of Defence to put things right. She asked them to:
- review the operation of the scheme in the light of her criticisms;
- consider the position of those denied payment because of the bloodlink criterion;
- apologise to them for the distress they had been caused; and
- consider whether that regret should be expressed tangibly.
The Government has agreed to implement the third and fourth recommendations but has not accepted the first two. Ann Abraham said in the report that she found this deeply disappointing. It is rare for the Ombudsman to have to draw Parliament’s attention to injustice caused by maladministration that the Government does not propose to remedy.
The report concludes that those for whom the scheme was supposed to offer a tangible expression of “a debt of honour”, in recognition of the inhuman treatment and suffering they endured in the 1940s at the hands of those who considered them to be British, were entitled to expect that the scheme would be devised, announced and run properly. It is ‘of considerable regret’ that this did not happen.
For more information please contact the press office on 0300 061 4996 or e-mail press@ombudsman.org.uk.
Notes to editors
- Publication details: The Parliamentary Ombudsman A Debt of Honour: the ex gratia scheme for British groups interned by the Japanese during the Second World War, HC 324, 13 July 2005, The Stationery Office (Order line: 0845 7 023474)
- Press copies: the reports are available from the Press Office, Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman, Millbank Tower, Millbank, London SW1P 4QP, telephone: 0300 061 4996/3943, e-mail press@ombudsman.gsi.gov.uk.
- From 13 July you can also find the reports on the website at: http://www.ombudsman.org.uk
- The Ombudsman made four findings of maladministration causing injustice to the complainant, Professor Hayward, and to others in a similar position. These were that:
- the scheme was devised in too great a hurry which led to a lack of clarity about eligibility criteria;
- the Ministerial statement to Parliament announcing the scheme was unclear and imprecise and gave rise to confusion and misunderstanding;
- there was no review of the effect of the late introduction of the bloodlink criterion on applicants to ensure that it did not lead to unequal treatment; and
- there was a failure to inform applicants that the criteria had been clarified when they were sent a questionnaire to establish their eligibility.
- The scheme was announced to Parliament on 7 November 2000.
- First payments were made on 1 February 2001.
- The bloodlink criterion (that an applicant had to have been born in the UK, or have a parent or grandparent who was born in the UK) was agreed on 21 March 2001.
- Ministers were informed on 12 June 2001.
- The new criterion was announced on 11 July 2001.
