§ 18. Mrs. WINTRINGHAMasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that application was made to the Admiralty by the Grimsby Branch of the British Legion of Exservice Men for pilotage money on behalf of 40 skippers of mine-sweepers, and that payment has been made in only 11 cases; and whether he can state on what grounds payment has been delayed in the other cases, though the application was made at the Admiralty's request six months ago?
§ Mr. AMERYOf the 36 claims which can be traced as having been received from the Grimsby Branch of the British Legion of Ex-service Men, formerly the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, 34 have been paid. I may point out that some of these claims were duplicates of claims previously received, and of the others only a proportion bore authority for payment to the organisation. Such claimants were accordingly paid either individually or on previous applications through other unions. If the British Legion are of opinion that any claims have miscarried or have been overlooked, investigation will be made if their secretary will forward particulars to the Admiralty.