§ 17. Major NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will state on what principle grants are paid to the relatives in aid of the cost of the funeral of a soldier who dies whilst at home on leave, and who is buried by his relatives; and 1070 whether, in view of the fact that the relatives are frequently unaware that application may be made for a military funeral, or to whom such application should be made, he will issue instructions to command paymasters to sanction the payment of any reasonable expenses incurred with a maximum limit of not less than, say, £10?
Captain GUESTIf a soldier dies while on leave at a place where a military funeral would be available, and is buried by his relatives, the cost of the military funeral is allowed. If no military funeral would be available, the General Officer Commanding has power to pay the reasonable expenses of a private funeral, without any hard and fast limit. If my hon. and gallant Friend has under his notice any case in which these rules have produced hardship, I shall be happy to consider it if he will give me particulars.
§ 18. Major NEWTONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the rule under which only a sum based on what the cost of the funeral of a deceased soldier would have been if carried out by the military authorities at the station where death took place may be allowed to relatives who request that the body may be sent home for burial causes hardship in many cases and operates unevenly, inasmuch as in some cases the contract rate for a military funeral is as low as £1 4s. whilst in other cases the cost approximates to £10; and whether, in the circumstances, he will consider the advisability of making a fixed grant of up to, say, £5 in any case in which under the present system of calculation a smaller amount only would be admissible as a charge against the public?
Captain GUESTUnder the present rule the public bears the cost of conveyance of the body by rail, in addition to what a military funeral at the place of death would have cost, the choice between a military funeral and a private funeral on these terms lying entirely with the relatives. These arrangements do not seem to me to involve hardship and it is not proposed to alter them.
§ Major NEWTONDoes not the hon. Gentleman see that one of the factors in calculating the amount to be paid is the contract cost of the funeral at the station where the soldier died, and if the contract cost at one station is £1 4s. and at another station is £40 there is a difference of nearly £9 which the family bears?
Captain GUESTThe difference is noted of course, but the general rule governing the whole case has been very carefully considered by the War Office, and they do not think it advisable to reopen it.
§ Major NEWTONIn a case of this sort which affects so many familities can we not have a reconsideration of a system which results in such inequality, so that a rule may be introduced which would bring about a state of equality for each family?