HC Deb 15 August 1940 vol 364 cc956-7
44. Mr. James Hall

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of Mr. Patrick O'Neill, of 70, Kinberston Street, E.1, who was invalided out of the Army and whose case was being pursued by the Stepney Citizens' Advice Bureau and was abandoned by them after two months because of their inability to obtain a reply from the War Service Grants Advisory Committee?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

The War Service Grants Advisory Committee are empowered to recommend grants only for the benefit of persons actually serving in the Forces; and the case of Mr. O'Neill consequently had to be rejected. I regret the failure to notify the Citizens' Advice Bureau, which was due to temporary disorganisation consequent on the evacuation of staff from London.

Mr. Hall

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the fact that the authorities at Toynbee Hall have tried for two months to get a reply from his Department, by both telephone and writing? Does he not regard that as a reflection upon the efficiency of his Department?

Sir W. Womersley

I agree that the authorities at Toynbee Hall failed to get a reply to their letter until my hon. Friend called my attention to it by this Question, and I looked into it myself. The regrettable reason was the evacuation of the staff from London. The records of letters had to be sorted out, and this letter was misplaced.