§ 26. Mr. CURRIEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether his Department will follow the course adopted by the War Office and suggest to naval agents and bankers that they should cease to require confirmations granted in Scotland of the estates of deceased Scottish officers to be resealed in the English Probate Court in respect of undrawn balances of pay appearing in the inventories of Scottish estates?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThis does not appear to be a matter in which the Admiralty can properly intervene. As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend on the 9th instant, the amounts paid to officers' agents or bankers under power of attorney or written authority automatically cease to be naval assets, and in consequence are altogether outside Admiralty control and jurisdiction.
§ Mr. CURRIEIs it not very inconvenient that there should be a difference of practice between the War Office and the Admiralty in this matter?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am not aware of the inconvenience, but if there is inconvenience and my hon. Friend will give me particulars I will look into it.
§ 97. Mr. CURRIEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether Army agents and bankers have now agreed to dispense with the resealing in the English Probate Court of Scottish confirmations of the estates of deceased Scottish officers in respect of undrawn balances of pay?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe Army agents have been advised, as I promised my hon. Friend, that the War Office does not object, but any action they may take remains a matter for their own discretion, and I have no information as to their views.