SIR GILBERTPARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that George Bishop, quartermaster-sergeant of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers, has been offered by the War Office compensation of £41 8s. for an injury received at class-firing at Bisley from a defective cartridge, which exploded in the chamber, carrying away the locking-piece and part of the shoulder of the rifle, lacerating three of Quartermaster-Sergeant Bishop's fingers, and destroying the drum of the right ear, permanently injuring the hearing; is he aware that Quartermaster-Sergeant Bishop has been paying for medical attendance since 25th May, and that at the present time he is paying 2s. a week as an outpatient of the Ear Hospital, Golden Square; and whether he will consider the advisability of increasing the compensation, representing 28 days at 3s. 6d. per day, given to this non-commissioned officer of twenty-five years service in the Volunteers, who through an injury inflicted by defective ammunition is now unable to perform properly his duties in the shop where he is employed.
§ MR. HALDANEI am not aware of this matter, but an inquiry shall be made into the case.