§ 38. Mr. HURDasked the Prime Minister whether he will cause inquiries to be made with a view to reforms in the Accounts Complaints Department of the War Office in order to obviate the present delays in the settlement of claims and so remove the strong and increasing feeling of grievance among ex-service men?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThis will be replied to by the War Office.
§ Mr. HURDCannot the right hon. Gentleman himself find time to give a little attention to this matter, and is he aware that hardly a day passes on which hon. Members do not receive urgent complaints from their constituents?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSON (Parliamentary Secretary, War Office)My right, hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. In numerous instances settlement cannot be effected without reference to authorities in India or other places 908 abroad, and consequently considerable time elapses before these cases are finally disposed of. If the hon. Member will let me have particulars of any specific cases he has in mind, I will see that they receive attention.
§ Mr. HURDMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether, as a matter of fact, I have not put several cases before him, and that he has had to admit that long and unnecessary delays have taken place?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI did not quite hear what the hon. Member said, but if it was with reference to the question of Mesopotamia, there is very considerable delay in getting information, and sometimes when it conies a further letter has to be written to elucidate some obscure point.
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI will look into the matter with great pleasure if the hon. Member will give me a specific case.