§ 66. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that poor relatives of wounded soldiers in hospital are frequently unable to afford the cost of long railway journeys in order to visit them; and if he will consider if steps can be taken to grant, in approved cases and subject to proper regulations, railway passes for such purposes at reduced rates?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)When a soldier is reported dangerously wounded or seriously ill a special form is forwarded to the next-of-kin, with instructions as to the way in which to obtain a military railway warrant in order to visit the patient in the hospital. Provision is also made on this form for a refund of fares paid in cases in which there is not time to obtain the recognised warrant. The grant of free travelling applies to one relative, and it is restricted to grave cases and to cases in which the relative is not in a position to pay the cost of the journey. For soldiers not in a grave condition, cheap tickets at the single fare for the double journey are issued to relatives on the production of a special voucher which can be obtained from the medical officer of the hospital concerned.