§ 6. Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that Marines serving and entitled to their pensions have not yet received them; and will he look into the matter with a view to their being paid at once?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI regret to say that issue of payment has not yet been made. I explained in an answer to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Reading, on 5th June, that there were a number of difficult questions which had to be decided between ourselves, the War Office, and the Treasury. We, however, cleared them all up, and invited applications for payment from the men a month ago. We have a number of applications before us at this moment, and shall deal with them forthwith. I ought to add, however, that the wide distribution of the men of this corps makes it inevitable that some time must elapse before all claims are satisfied. I need not add, of course, that no man's claim is in any way prejudiced by this unavoidable delay, which I regret.
§ Mr. HOHLERWill my right hon. Friend explain why it is necessary that the men should make application? He ought to know their names and pay them at once.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes; but some men have said they would rather go on getting pay to qualify for increased pension than have the pension paid to them at the present time. We must give them the option.
§ Mr. HOHLERHaving given them the option, most of them have not exercised it, and why in those cases cannot the men's accounts be credited at once with the amount?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI will consider that, but I have explained that we must give them the option.