§ 36. Mr. K. Thompsonasked the Secretary of State for War if he will investigate the circumstances in which his Department failed to notify a National Service man of the sudden death of his father.
§ Mr. HeadThis information was immediately passed to the soldier's unit in Korea. Unfortunately the unit was in the process of being disbanded and the information did not reach Sapper Birch. I should like to take this opportunity of apologising for his not receiving it.
§ Mr. ThompsonThe relatives of Sapper Birch will be very grateful to my right hon. Friend for his expression of regret. Is my right hon. Friend aware, however, how much distress a matter like this can cause within the circle of the family, and how much damage is done to the reputation of the administrative side of the Army by repeated happenings of this kind?
§ Mr. HeadWell, it is a very large Army. But I can assure my hon. Friend that this particular information was passed on for the sapper by us. It is normal for relatives themselves to inform men of this kind of thing, but if we are particularly asked we do so, and did so by the best means possible. I very much regret that the information did not reach him because of the disbandment.
§ Mr. AwberyIn view of the fact that the Minister is often criticised for his sins of omission and commission, may I ask him to accept my appreciation of the speed with which last week he brought home a young man to see his father, who had been taken seriously ill?