WIDOWS OF POLISH EX-SERVICEMEN

Early day motion 1749, tabled 10 November 1998 by Hilton Dawson (Labour). Signed by 20 members.

That this House expresses profound gratitude for the immense contribution made by members of the Polish armed forces to the defence of the United Kingdom and eventual victory in the Second World War; notes that the unique circumstances of Polish ex-servicemen and their families have been recognised through the Pensions Polish Forces Scheme but that the widows of Polish ex-servicemen are required to meet a higher standard of proof than the widows of British ex-servicemen in order to be awarded war pensions; and therefore calls upon the Government to redress a historic injustice by amending regulations to ensure that applicants under the Polish scheme are also afforded the benefit of reasonable doubt in pursuing claims that the sad deaths of their husbands were due to, or substantially hastened by, service in the armed forces.

Signatures by party: Labour 10, Liberal Democrat 7, UUP 2, Conservative 1.