§ 49. Lieutenant-Colonel CLAUDE LOWTHERasked the Prime Minister whether he can state the cause of the delay 300 in paying the special war gratuity to the dependants of deceased soldiers and sailors, and when the claimants may expect payment?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I am afraid that the work involved is not quite appreciated. The payment of these gratuities involves the reopening of some 700,000 estates. The cases are being dealt with in their order according to the date of death. We are doing our best to overtake the work, but I am afraid that it will be some time before the majority of the cases have been dealt with.