§ Mr. FLEMINGasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the damage to the uniforms of the officers and men of the Regular Army engaged in putting out the heath fires in the Aldershot district has to be made good out of their own pockets; and whether there exists some public fund to make good the loss incurred by these men in doing a public service?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Colonel Seely)The general officer commanding concerned is empowered by the regulations to investigate claims of this kind and to approve them within the prescribed limits. In exceptional cases reference to the Army Council is necessary, but no such application has been received in this case.
§ Mr. HUNTIs it the fact that men who do get their clothes burned do not get paid for them, but have to pay themselves?
§ Colonel SEELYI hope not. Any case brought to my notice will be investigated at once.
§ Mr. FLEMINGAm I to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's reply that the only way is to report to the officer commanding?
§ Colonel SEELYYes. Whenever anything of the kind occurs in the ordinary way the commanding officer of the unit, if appealed to, can address the Commander-in-Chief. If it was within the prescribed limits of compensation it would be at once paid. If not within those limits, appeal would be made to the Army Council. We have had no such appeal.