HC Deb 22 June 1943 vol 390 cc990-2
30. Mr. Norman Bower

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that widows and relatives of officers killed on active service are receiving demands for the repayment of small amounts of pay and allowances overpaid to the dead man some months previously; and whether, in view of the distress caused by this procedure, he will give instructions that it is to cease?

31. Miss Ward

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will give an assurance that, in future, when any member of His Majesty's Forces is killed on active service and pay and allowances are continued owing to non-notification of death to the authorities, no application for a refund of such payment and allowances will, in any circumstances, be made to the next-of-kin?

32. Mr. Quintin Hogg

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will discontinue the practice of claiming small refunds of pay from the next-of-kin of officers and men killed in action?

38. Captain Gammans

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, in the case of the death in action or by accident of a soldier of any rank, he is prepared to discontinue the present practice of making a subsequent claim for any over-payments and whether, in future, over-payments in such cases will be written off?

39. Sir Adam Maitland

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will rearrange the system of pay to officers so as to prevent cases of bereaved parents or wives being called upon to refund amounts credited to officers who have lost their lives in the service of the State?

40. Captain Duncan

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he will take steps to write-off automatically overpayment of pay and allowances for the month in cases where an officer or soldier is killed or has died while on active service?

Mr. A. Henderson

I welcome this opportunity to give a brief outline of the practice of the War Office, which is also the practice of the Air Ministry, in these cases and so help to dispel any misunderstandings there may be. The War Office practice does not in general differ from the custom generally observed by persons with claims against the estates of deceased persons. No claim is however made by the War Office against the estate in the case of officers unless the amount exceeds £5. It has moreover recently been decided that in addition no claim is made when the estate is less than £2,000 and there are dependants or when the estate is less than £100 and there are no dependants. Special consideration has always been given to any circumstances of hardship. In the case of other ranks no claims at all are made.

Mr. Bower

Is it not a fact that an undertaking was given during the last war that this procedure would be discontinued owing to the distress caused by reopening these wounds after such a lapse of time? Does that undertaking no longer hold good?

Mr. Henderson

I am afraid I have no knowledge of any such undertaking.

Sir A. Maitland

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that however admirable the arrangements he has outlined would be in practice they are not being carried out, and that cases have occurred quite recently where dependants of men killed have received a demand for repayment a very few days after?

Mr. Henderson

If my hon. Friend has knowledge of any particular case in which the regulations are not being carried out, I shall be glad if he will let me have it for investigation.

Miss Ward

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman not aware that these cases have already been quoted, and have these been investigated? Can he give an answer to the House now? There has been plenty of publicity. We would like an answer to-day.

Mr. Henderson

I am afraid the hon. Lady will not get an answer to-day. She will have to wait until I have personally seen the cases to which she refers before I can personally investigate them.

Miss Ward

Would the hon. and learned Gentleman kindly turn up the files?

Mr. Hogg

Would the hon. and learned Gentleman not reconsider the limit of £5, and would he not undertake that in future the War Office will show the same consideration to the relatives of deceased persons as an ordinary, decent, private citizen might be expected to do?

Mr. Bellenger

When do these new rules operate, of £2,000 and £100?

Mr. Henderson

They operate now.

Mr. Astor

How great a sum is involved over the year in these small payments?

Mr. Henderson

I should require notice of that question.