§ 30. Mr. SHAWasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the period which elapses between the date when a man who gets his commission from the ranks takes up his duties as an officer and the date on which his name appears in the "Gazette"; whether he is aware that for an interval of several months such men are unable to draw pay from the regimental paymaster; that, until their names appear in the "Gazette," the Army agents will give them neither pay nor credit, and that the £100 outfit allowance is not credited although in the meantime they have to provide themselves with uniform; and whether measures will be taken to mitigate these hardships, and to ensure to the families of these men the continuance of the Government allotment during the period when they are debarred from drawing pay from any source whatever?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)Difficulties should not occur, and I am not aware of any complaints. If the hon. Member can give me particulars of any specific case, I will have inquiry made.
§ Mr. KINGIs the hon. Gentleman aware that a number of young officers just appointed are really placed in a position of great difficulty, and probably every Member of the House has had application for loans. I certainly have.
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware of that, but I have asked my hon. Friend to give me any specific facts, and I will endeavour to trace out where the difficulty arises.