§ 9. Mrs. Mannasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a warrant officer of 909 Company, Royal Army Service Corps, is being asked to refund £334 10s. from his wages for lodging allowance paid to him over a previous period; and, as this error was not the fault of the soldier, if he will cancel this charge.
§ Mr. AmeryI am afraid that in the time available my right hon. Friend has not been able to consider all aspects of this rather complicated case; but I will write to the hon. Lady as soon as I can.
In the meantime I am glad to be able to tell her that at least part of this debt will be written off.
§ Mrs. MannDoes not the hon. Gentleman think that it is shock enough to the Service man to have the lodging allowance discontinued without being asked to pay £334 for the last two or three years? Surely it can all be written off. Is not he aware that this warrant officer is receiving only £1 a week just now, and that his hire-purchase commitments present a particular problem? Will he consider remitting the entire amount?
§ Mr. AmeryI agree with the hon. Lady that in this case the over-issue arose through no fault of the soldier. That is why I have said we shall write off at least a substantial part of the debt. I do not wish to go beyond that at this stage, but I will write to the hon. Lady in due course.