§ 22. Mr. Liddallasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will Indicate the steps that can be taken by serving officers to obtain payment of outstanding arrears of allowances which repeated application has failed to recover?
§ Mr. EdenThe Question involves the assumption that there are a substantial number of cases in which officers have been for some considerable time unable, in spite of repeated applications, to obtain allowances to which they are entitled. It is impossible to deal with generalised assumptions of this nature, which I am not prepared to admit in the absence of concrete evidence. Allegations of this general nature have frequently been made, but when investigated in particular cases have proved in the large majority of cases to be unfounded. If there are any officers who have been unable within a reasonable time to secure payment of allowances to which they are entitled, I should be glad if they would forward their claims with full particulars, through their commanding officers, to the Paymaster-in-Chief, War Office, when they will be dealt with without delay. I should, however, point out that this special procedure should be applied only to cases where payment has been unduly delayed and not to cases where the claim has been already refused as inadmissible.
§ Mr. LiddallIs not my right hon. Friend aware that it is quite impossible 97 for any serving officer to get any reply from Command paymasters or the Army Pay Department?
§ Mr. EdenNo, Sir; certainly I am not prepared to accept that. I have given a reply, and if my hon. Friend has any specific allegations, perhaps he will bring them to me.
§ Mr. LiddallI have submitted a certain number to the War Office, and I am prepared to submit others.
§ Major MilnerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the system is far worse in this war than it was in the last war 20 years ago, and that nothing has been learned in the interval?