§ 94. Mr. HURDasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the increasing dissatisfaction among ex-service men by reason of the delays in the settlement of their injury and other claims; and if he will explain why the hon. Member for Frome has for six weeks been without more than a bald acknowledgment of his detailed and reiterated statement of the claims of his constituent, Charles E. Wheeler, Styles Hill Cottage, Rodden, Frome, late regimental tailor, 2/1st North Somerset Yeomanry, registered No. 25, injuries, 6043 (F3)?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)I regret that it has been impossible so far to amplify the answer given to the hon. Member in October last. Wheeler was not enlisted and has therefore no claim to any soldier's pension in respect of the disability from which he is suffering. Endeavours have been made to discover on what precise footing he was engaged by the 2/lst Battalion, North Somerset Yeomanry, as it is not usual for civilian employés to be allowed to wear uniform. The fact, however, that he may have been allowed to wear uniform does not alter the position and he is apparently only entitled to be treated as a civilian under the Workmen's Compensation Act or otherwise. For the reasons which have already been given to the hon. Member I am at present unable to authorise any payment under the Workmen's Compensation Act. His case would appear to fall under the National Health Insurance Act, and in such cases there is no liability upon Army Funds.