PRIME Minister Tony Blair gave a very strong hint that former Japanese prisoners of war could be in line for extra compensation.

Some reports suggest the Government will announce after Chancellor's pre-Budget report on November 8 plans to pay a 10,000 special gratuity to every survivor of Japanese prison camps.

The campaign for compensation has been led by former Witney mayor Arthur Titherington, chairman of the Japanese Labour Camps Survivors' Association.

He described the possible gratuity as a "fair return for what has happened to us", but was dismayed by news of a further two-week delay before any official announcement.

He said members of his association were dying every week 250 had died since April.

In the Commons, Mr Blair twice told MPs that he had a good deal of sympathy with the campaign mounted by the Royal British Legion for additional money to be paid to POWs.

He stressed that it won't be very much longer before a decision is made.

Mr Blair said: The suffering that they endured was appalling.

The nation owes them a particular debt of honour for the sacrifice they've made and the memories they have had to live with, literally, for the rest of their lives.