HC Deb 27 April 1917 vol 92 cc2732-3
18. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Pensions Minister if there is any fixed minimum gratuity for men not eligible for pension; and, if so, what is the amount?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member on 27th March, and the Pensions Minister's statement to the House on the 17th instant.

Mr. HOGGE

Has the hon. and gallant Gentleman read Clause 2 of the National Health Insurance Bill, and, in view of that, is there to be a fixed minimum gratuity in the case of soldiers who do not get a pension?

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is asking the same question over again.

Mr. HOGGE

My reason for asking the supplementary, is that this Bill is down for Third Reading to-day, and I shall oppose it unless I get a satisfactory answer, because it involves the future of a great many discharged soldiers.

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member asked his question, got his answer, and asked his question again. That is all that happened.

25. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the practice whereby dependants of soldiers have their allowances reduced owing to errors of paymasters overpaying and then recovering and also of recovering debts from soldiers from their wives' allowances; whether he recognises the hardship to the dependants; and will he take steps to place the responsibility for such over-payments on the shoulders of those responsible?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)

Full consideration is given to the circumstances of each case, including the degree of responsibility attaching to the issuing officer, before any recovery is decided upon, and such recovery as is found necessary is effected by small instalments spread over such period as to avoid hardship. There is no practice of recovering the soldier's debts from his wife's allowance.

Mr. HOGGE

If the over-payment is the mistake of the paymaster and not of the woman, will it be recovered from the paymaster by the same small weekly instalments by which it is now recovered from the woman?

Mr. FORSTER

It is not always the fault of the paymaster that these overpayments are made.

Mr. HOGGE

When it is the fault of the paymaster will it be recovered from him and not from the woman?

Mr. FORSTER

No; I really cannot accept that doctrine at all. I do not think there is any case for repayment by the paymaster.