§ 72. Mr. KEIR HARDIEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he has now received the application form from Mrs. Ireland for the separation allowance in respect to Sapper Ireland; whether he can state the reason why Sapper Ireland cancelled his allotment; and whether it is allowable for a son to cancel his share of the allotment to his mother?
Mr. BAKERI am afraid that it is not possible to trace an individual soldier except through his unit and regimental number, but a soldier's allotment to his mother is entirely voluntary.
§ 77 and 82. Mr. JOYCEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) whether his attention has been called to the complaint made by Mrs. Wighton, of Limerick, wife of Driver George Herbert Wighton, No. 27763, Royal Field Artillery, that he is not contributing to her support although she is his lawful wife; whether he is aware that this man was arrested and imprisoned for neglecting his wife and children; will he inquire whether this man is allowing money to another woman; whether full inquiries will be made into this case with the view of giving this man's lawful wife and children justice; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. M. M'Knight, of Roches Street, Limerick, who has seven sons in the Army, three sons married and four sons unmarried; whether he is aware that this woman was depending all the winter on the small sum of 6s. per week granted 184 to her by the ladies of the Soldiers' Families Association of Limerick, and that nothing was given to her by the Government; whether he is aware that Lady A. Nash has written several times calling attention to this woman's case and that no reply was given to her letters; what amount per week, if any, does this woman receive now and will he state when Mrs. M'Knight commenced to receive it; and whether, taking all the circumstances of this case into account, the Government are prepared to grant a reasonable sum of money to this woman in order that she may not have to depend on charity?
Mr. BAKERThe hon. Member has drawn my attention to those cases and inquiry is already being made. I will inform him of the result.
§ 80. Viscount VALENTIAasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the question of pensions to widows of officers killed in action holding temporary rank has been considered; and whether it is intended to grant pensions of the rank which the officers temporarily held to their widows?
§ 81. Mr. SAMUEL ROBERTSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that there is considerable inconvenience and hardship being caused to many of the mothers who are dependent upon their sons who have enlisted in the Army, by reason of the fact that the allowances are not forthcoming until after considerable delay from the York paymaster's office; and whether he will take steps to have these settlements expedited?
§ Mr. S. ROBERTSMay I afterwards state to the hon. gentleman a case in regard to which I have received private information?