32. Sir M. BARLOWasked the Pensions Minister whether officers who have been invalided out of the Navy, Army, or Air Force and have been awarded gratuities on the ground that their disabilities have been neither caused nor aggravated by their service have the same right of appeal against the decision as is enjoyed by non-commissioned officers, and men; and, if so, whether an Appeal Tribunal for officers has been constituted?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe answer is in the affirmative; it is intended the officers should have the right of appeal already possessed by non-commissioned officers and men in regard to the question whether their disabilities were or were not attributable to or aggravated by their naval or military service. I constituted a special committee a short time ago, to which such cases have from time to time been referred, and I propose to ask this committee to form the tribunal for dealing with officers' appeals.
Sir M. BARLOWDo I understand that tribunal will be operating at once in any case that comes before them?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENYes, certainly. As a matter of fact, they have operated in one or two cases already.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENCertainly. Just as the men's tribunal deals with all cases of rejection in previous years, so, similarly, cases of rejection in the past may be brought forward in the case of officers.
§ 48. Mr. WINGasked the Prime Minister if the Government will appoint a Committee to reconsider the question of 527 allowances to soldiers' wives and dependants, with a view of adopting such methods as the experience of the last three years suggests?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I have been asked to answer this question. I am not aware of any difficulties in the system as now worked which rendered a new Committee necessary.