§ 24. Mr. E. Smithasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Sapper James Matthews, 5,044,786, 41st Anti-Aircraft Battalion 5th North Staffords, met with an accident while training with the Territorial Army in July, 1937; that prior to his accident he received a wage of £4 a week and that he has a wife and two children; and when is compensation to be paid?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI understand that the accident was not reported at the time, but in August, 1937, Sapper Matthews reported that he was unable to work owing to injuries to his back, sustained at the beginning of annual training in the previous July. He was asked to produce a certificate from his doctor of incapacity 1400 to work and as to the nature, duration and history of the disability for which he had attended him. This has not been produced to date, although it has been repeatedly asked for. In its absence it is difficult to deal with the claim for compensation.