§ 18. Mr. Dribergasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware, that the Regimental Paymaster, R.E., Radcliffe, Manchester, notified a resident of Braintree on 2nd October, reference W6/1B/53, that no instructions had yet been received from the War Office regarding increases in allowances payable in respect of service men's children living in the care of guardians; if he will expedite the issue of 2180 such instructions to paymasters; and if such increases will be payable retrospectively.
§ Sir J. GriggThe new rates are in issue in all cases except where there are one or two children and home is being maintained. Before the new higher rates of guardian's allowance can be paid in these cases it is necessary for the soldier to consent to pay his full qualifying allotment instead of the smaller allotment payable with the old, lower rates of allowance and arrangements to this end are now being made. Pending the receipt of the man's option steps are being taken to pay immediately the full children's allowance in these cases. The new rates will be paid retrospectively with effect from 1st May.
§ 24 Mr. Ness Edwardsasked the Secretary of State for War (1) if he is yet in a position to reinstate the Army allowance to Mrs. Jones, Upper Francis Street, Abertridwr, which was stopped on 17th August on account of her son beings alleged to be a deserter from the Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry, although he was fighting in France in the unit to which he had been transferred and now lies wounded in an overseas military hospital;
(2) if any steps have yet been taken to make amends to the parents of Private Jones, 14408866, Seaforth Highlanders, whose home was visited on 18th August by three military policemen for the purpose of arresting Private Jones as a deserter despite the fact that he was on that day fighting in France with the unit to which he had been transferred;
(3) why Mrs. Jones, Upper Francis Street, Abertridwr, was informed on 26th September that her allowance was stopped because her son was still a deserter, despite the fact that the full circumstances explaining that this soldier was fighting in France with his new unit had been conveyed to and received by his Department on 18th September in a letter from the hon. Member for Caerphilly.
§ Sir J. GriggIf a man is absent without leave and is still absent after seven days, allowances in issue to his family are stopped. The regimental paymaster received such information about this man and he was bound to take the action he did. The report proved to be wrong and the allowances, with the arrears due, were 2181 then paid to his mother. I am making inquiries as to how the mistake occurred. I can only assure the hon. Member meanwhile that I am extremely sorry that it did occur.
§ Mr. Ness EdwardsIs my right hon. Friend aware that this case has caused a very great amount of distress to two old people, one of whom was ill in bed, who were very much upset, especially after the military police were sent to the house to arrest the boy who is wounded and in hospital? Why was it that the paymaster, 10 days after the War Office had been notified of the full facts, still persisted in a letter to these people that their son was a deserter, when they knew he was in France?
§ Sir J. GriggIf the hon. Member is referring to the interval between the re-issue of the allowance book after the War Office had found out that a mistake had been made, the only answer I can give is that there is great pressure on record and pay offices at the moment in connection with the payment of arrears in regard to the new system of war service increments. They are under-staffed anyhow and are very heavily pressed. As regards the first part of the supplementary question, I am extremely sorry that this distress should have been caused.
§ Sir Herbert WilliamsIs not the trouble due to the fact that any communication from the War Office has to go through eight different hands, instead of going directly? Is not the reason why they are overpressed because it takes six people to do one man's job?
§ Sir J. GriggNot at all, Sir, I am willing to back the efficiency of the War Office against any business establishment—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh!"]—the hon. Member likes to name.
§ Mr. GallacherWill the War Office not consider some sort of compensation for the unnecessary suffering which has been imposed on these people?
§ Sir J. GriggI personally do not think, and I do not think the hon. Member for Caerphilly (Mr. Ness Edwards) would regard it as suitable, or even decent, that an attempt should be made to compensate distress of mind by a monetary payment.
§ Mr. GallacherI did not say a monetary payment. It is only a mean mind that jumps to a monetary payment.