Ombudsman slams MoD compensation scheme
The parliamentary ombudsman has criticised the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) compensation scheme for British people interned by the Japanese in World War II.
Ann Abraham said the way the scheme was devised, announced and implemented “fell short of the standards of public administration that citizens are entitled to expect from public bodies”.
She particularly criticized the way the criteria for compensation was changed to make about 1,000 British subjects with no close “bloodlink” to the UK ineligible.
The government has accepted two of her recommendations for change, including apologising to those denied payment under the new criteria, but refused to review the operation of the scheme or consider the position of those ineligible.
Ms Abraham said this was “deeply disappointing” and urged that the ‘debt of honour’ be offered to those people affected in recognition for the “inhuman treatment and suffering” they endured.
