§ MR. M'LAREN (Leicester, Bosworth)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of Private Heppingstall, who died after completing his full term of service in the Leicestershire Regiment, an application was made to the War Office by his next of kin for his deferred pay, amounting to £20, and other effects, and will he explain why, though five months have now elapsed since such application was made, nothing has been done by the authorities; and whether he will state for how long a period deferred pay and personal effects are retained by the War Office after the death of a soldier, and on what grounds these delays are made?
MR. POWELL WILLIAMSPrivate Heppingstall died in South Africa on the 27th December last. When soldiers die abroad, some time is necessarily required for obtaining the particulars to enable an issue of the effects to be made. These should have been received early in April. Some further delay, however, has arisen from the fact that the soldier was not at the time of his death serving with his regiment, but was attached to another corps. A special report was called for in April, and every effort will be made to settle this case as early as possible.