§ SIR GILBERT PARKER (Gravesend)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War if he will now state whether it is intended to give increased compensation to George Bishop, quartermaster-sergeant of the 2nd Volunteer Battalion Royal Fusiliers, who was offered £4 18s. 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 and necessitating medical attendance at a payment of 2s. a week as an out-patient of the Ear Hospital, Golden Square; and whether he is aware that Quartermaster-Sergeant Bishop lost his situation on 31st August last, owing to the effects of the injury received, and that he and his wife and six children have been more or less dependent on charity during the last six months.
§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE,) HaddingtonA gratuity has been awarded to Quartermaster-Sergeant Bishop in accordance 1079 with the regulations for the period during which he was certified to be unable to follow his employment. The General Officer Commanding was instructed in November to submit the case with a view to the consideration of a further grant for the cost of medical treatment when the man's attendance at Golden Square Hospital has been completed. No mention was made by the man or his commanding officer in the course of the correspondence in October that the man had lost his situation on 31st August owing to the effects of that injury. I have directed that further inquiry be made into this case.
§ SIR GILBERT PARKERIf it is found that the facts are as stated, will the Department give a further grant?
§ MR. HALDANEI will ascertain the facts first.