§ COLONEL BROOKFIELD (Sussex, Rye)I beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, owing to the battalions of Imperial Yeomanry in South Africa being broken up and the companies scattered, there has been much irregularity in the rendering of proper pay lists and in settling the claims of individual non-commissioned officers and men who have returned home, some of them in credit for considerable sums of money, which, through being out of communication with their companies, they are unable to obtain; and whether any steps are being taken to expedite and facilitate an early adjustment of claims of this description.
LORD STANLEYMen returning from South Africa without statements of accounts are treated as follows:—Firstly, they are taken on pay from the date of embarkation; secondly, they are granted in respect of any arrears of pay they may claim a provisional payment of £5 or thirty days pay and messing allowance, whichever is the greater, or if they can show any proof beyond their own bare statement of the sum due to them, they are granted four-fifths of the amount which appears to be due to them. Constant reminders are sent to South Africa to expedite the transmission of accounts. I know the hon. Member appreciates the difficulties the authorities are under, and I think he and the House will agree with me that more cannot be expected to be done at present.