HC Deb 18 March 1919 vol 113 cc1921-2
109. Mr. IRVING

asked the Postmaster-General whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. C. F. G. Staines, a sorting clerk and telegraphist at York, who is suffering from a serious illness admittedly due to military service; whether he is aware that Mr. Staines served during the South African War, and had a serious illness due to malaria and dysentery; that Mr. Staines subsequently served in the Royal Engineers Reserves at 6d. per day until August, 1914; that Mr. Staines went to France in August, 1914, with the 1st Army Corps and was in the Mons retreat, and served continuously until August, 1917, when he was discharged; and that he was taken ill the day after discharge, and has been on sick leave at intervals since that date; whether he is aware that the Post Office authorities have reduced his weekly wage from £4 to £2 because of his illness; and whether he has refused to modify the sick leave regulations even where the illness is known to be due to military service?

Mr. ILLINGWORTH

Under an Order in Council applicable to the whole Civil Service, sick pay is reduced to half after as much as six months' absence during a period of twelve months, and I have no power to make exceptions in individual cases. As regards the position of men invalided from the forces, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on the 10th instant by the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to the hon. Member for Twickenham.