§ 33. Mr. George Brownasked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now reconsidered the reply of his Department of 4th February to the request of the hon. Member for Belper about Mr. S. A. Daniels; and whether he is now prepared to authorise the payment of Service pay and allowances from date of enlistment to discharge.
§ Mr. LawsonI regret that I can see no grounds for altering the decision which has been reached in this case.
§ Mr. BrownIs not my right hon. Friend aware that this man received no pay at all but a gratuity based upon his service in the Forces, and that, in fact, the reasons given in the letters of 4th February and nth March are completely contradictory? Does he not consider it scandalous that a man should serve for a period in the Forces and receive no pay of any kind?
§ Mr. LawsonI am very sorry to have to say that this man never did any effective military service. In the confusion which existed at the beginning of the war his discharge was not carried out until July, 1940, but he was in civilian employment after 1st March, 1940. It was not until 1945 that he made any claim for pay.
§ Mr. BrownSurely, my right hon. Friend would agree that no civilian employer could get out of paying a man because some confusion existed in his records? This man was an attested soldier, claims were made by his wife while he was in the Service, and have been made several times since. Will not my right hon. Friend reconsider the matter?
§ Mr. LawsonThere are many difficulties in the way, which have been created primarily by the fact that the man did not make his claim until very late.
§ Mr. LawsonHad he made his claim at the proper time it might have been considered, and an ex gratia payment made.
§ Mr. BrownIn view of the grossly unsatisfactory nature of that reply, I shall seek an opportunity to raise the matter on the Adjournment.