§ 36. Mr. EDGAR HORNEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Private B. T. Clay, serving in the 1/4th Battalion Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, Territorial Force, in India, has been refused proficiency pay, on the ground that his previous service was in the Royal Navy, while, had this service been in the Regular Army, Royal Marines, or Territorial Force, Private Clay would have been in all respects eligible for such pay; whether the same decision has been given in the case of Private G. Mace, serving in the supernumerary companies attached to the 2/5th Queen's, for the same reason; and whether he will take steps to rectify this state of affairs, arising under the wording of Army Order 96 of 1915?
Mr. BAKERI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave on 958 this subject last Wednesday to the Noble Lord the hon. Member for Portsmouth, a copy of which I will send to him.
§ 40. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that officers in the Territorial Force are excluded from obtaining increments of pay similar to those given to officers in the Regular Army; that a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force, although having ten years' service in the ranks, receives 23s. 6d. a day, and must render three years' embodied service before being entitled to draw 26s.; and will he consider the advisability of removing what is regarded to be an injustice throughout the Territorial Force, and grant increments of pay to alt ranks in respect of combined service rendered before and after embodiment?
Mr. BAKERAs I have already explained in answer to previous questions on this subject, service in the Territorial Force before embodiment cannot be regarded as equivalent to continuous service in the Regulars, but the position of Territoral Force Royal Army Medical Corps officers with regard to pay and promotion is now receiving consideration.
§ Sir. C. KINLOCH-COOKECan the hon. Gentleman say when me shall know the result of that consideration?
§ 42. Mr. HOGGEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what precisely is the practice of the War Office in continuing payments to the dependants of soldiers who have been killed; and what is done in cases where the twenty-six weeks expire before the new body to be set up to deal with pensions is approved?
Mr. BAKERThe normal practice is to continue the allowance for twenty-six weeks from the date upon which the casualty is notified to the dependant. Pending the formation of the new body, a further continuance of the allowance, within the limits of widow's pension, is being granted.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say what will happen in the matter of difference between the pension and the allowance, and will they have the difference?
§ 43. Mr. HOGGEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is now in a position to state what new 959 arrangements are to obtain with regard to fuel and light allowances, etc., in the case of soldiers who are billeted?
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say how soon? He said that when last he was asked, some considerable time before.
§ 49. Sir J. LONSDALEasked the Prime Minister if it is intended to introduce a Bill to give effect to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Pensions and Grants with reference to the reconstitution of the Royal Patriotic Corporation and the assignment to a statutory committee of that corporation of certain duties in regard to military and naval pensions and allowances; and when the House will have an opportunity of considering this matter?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Asquith)A Bill will be introduced, but, as has already been promised, before its introduction an opportunity will be given for the discussion of the Report of the Select Committee. I am unable yet to name a day.
§ 60. Mr. BRIDGEMANasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will reconsider the decision to refuse a dependant's allowance to a woman whose husband has died since the War, and who now becomes dependent upon a son who did not support her before but who would be able to do so if he had not enlisted, and who now makes an allotment in her favour?
Mr. BAKERThese cases are excluded by the decision of the Select Committee, which I cannot undertake to alter, but they might properly be relieved from voluntary sources, or through the new statutory body.
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANDoes not the hon. Gentleman realise that in a case like this if the man had shirked his duty he would have been living at home and supporting his mother, and because he has done his duty, and in spite of his giving the full allotment out of his pay, his mother is practically being left in destitution?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANIs the hon. Gentleman aware that the Prince of Wales' Relief Fund refuses to assist cases of this kind?
Mr. BAKERI am not aware of that, but I am afraid that in any case I cannot undertake to go beyond the recommendation of the Select Committee.