§ 28. Major Sir B. FALLEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty if, seeing that the division of prize money may take a considerable period, he will consider the granting of preliminary sums of such prize money in the immediate future?
§ Dr. MACNAMARASince my hon. Friend's question of last week, the proposal that there should be an ad interim payment has again been very carefully considered. This could not be done, of course, until the records of service are complete. The Department responsible is making every effort to finish that work. Of course, my hon. Friend realises that service conferring eligibility was not finally closed until 11th November last. We are working to have the records completed so that they may be ready by the time that the money is available for distribution. This, we hope, will be in the autumn. I ought to remind my hon. Friend that, apart from the delay involved, which, I think, he will see is entirely inevitable, no one's interests are prejudiced. Interest is payable on the values of all ships and stores that have been taken into use by the Government and on the moneys that have been received. Further, it is provided that the shares due to men who are dead shall be paid to their representatives, and the fact that a man may have left the Service will not deprive him of his share of prize money unless he has been discharged for misconduct.