§ 28. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can state the Regulation, Army Order, or Army Council Instruction under which men in hospital, suffering from wounds received or disease contracted on or aggravated by military service, are charged 7d. per day for maintenance and treatment?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)The stoppage of pay from men in hospital is governed by paragraph 73 of the Allowance Regulations as modified by Army Order 25 of 1915 and Army Council Instruction 408 of 1917. As I have frequently pointed out, no stoppage is made in the case of men suffering from wounds or disease due to service in the field.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman give the House an assurance that if a soldier is in hospital suffering from any disease which is not due to his 1592 own fault or due to his delinquency, he shall not be charged 7d. a day out of his pay while he is serving as a soldier?
§ Mr. FORSTERI cannot give that assurance. As I have already said, in the case of men who are suffering from wounds received in action or from disease due to military service no stoppage is made. It lies within the discretion of the commanding officer, after taking all the circumstances into review, whether stoppage shall be made in the case of men who are suffering from disease incurred under other circumstances.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERDo I understand that 7d. a day is not to be deducted in the eases the right hon. Gentleman has mentioned; that if it has been deducted it has been wrongfully deducted and will be refunded?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes.
§ Mr. PRINGLECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether it is not the case when a man who is wounded reports himself at his depot while not fully recovered, that if he goes into hospital again deduction is made?
§ Mr. FORSTERIt must be obvious that it depends upon circumstance?. If a man is suffering from the effects of wounds no stoppage will be made.