Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked whether a soldier's wife who is in receipt of the extra London allowance of 3s. 6d. must forfeit that allowance if she leaves London for three months under medical advice, even although she retains her rooms in London and continues to pay rent for them?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir; the Regulations provide for the continuance of sepa-1648W ration allowance for periods of temporary absence during which the wife maintains her home in London.
Mr. BARLOWasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, with regard to the case of Private Ardrey, No. 28759, 1st Garrison, King's Liverpool Regiment, whether it is claimed that he has allotted his mother 9d. a day when in fact he only allotted her 6d., in accordance with the usual rule; whether there is an alleged debt of £16 due from him; and what are the grounds of this alleged debt of £16?
§ Mr. FORSTERI will have inquiry made and let my hon. Friend know the result.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, if he can explain why Mrs. Mary Nolan, of Clooneeragh, Turlough, county Mayo, mother of Private Michael Nolan, No. 85152, 15th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery (Lenan Head Battery, Clonmany, county Donegal), has been refused a dependant's separation allowance in addition to the 3s. 6d. per week allotted to her by her son, from whom she obtained her only means of support before his enlistment; and if he can take immediate steps to have her claim reconsidered?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am not aware that the claim for dependant's separation allowance has been refused. It would appear from inquiries which have been made, that the claim is still under investigation by the old age pension authorities who have been urgently requested to expedite it.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he can explain why Mrs. Mary Rielly, Westport, mother of Private M. Rielly. No. 28762, 4th Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, received no dependants' separation allowance or the 3s. 6d. per week allotted to her by her son from 10th November, 1915, to May, 1916; and if the default were due to the destruction of papers in the General Post Office, Dublin, during the rebellion, whether the investigations into this and similar cases will be completed and dependants paid the allotments and allowances to which they are entitled and for which they have made repeated applications?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am having inquiries made, and will let the hon. Member know the result as soon as possible. Speaking generally, I can assure the hon. Member with regard to the latter part of his question that all cases which have been brought to light have been investigated.
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§ Mr. DUFFYasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the feeling of dissatisfaction that exists amongst the next-of-kin of soldiers in respect to the delay that takes place in informing them as to the pension or gratuity that they are awarded on the death of a relative; whether Quartermaster-Sergeant Hegarty, No. 7982, Con-naught Rangers, was killed at Gallipoli in August, 1915; whether he is aware that his sister was entirely dependent on him for a living; whether she received a separation allowance of £1 4s. 5d. down to the date of his death; whether that sum was then cut down to 4s. a week, but ceased altogether in May; whether, as a result of repeated applications, a small gratuity of £30 has at last been awarded to this soldier's sister; and, having regard to the circumstances of the case, namely, her youth, her sole dependence on her brother, and the fact that she is now left unprovided for, whether he will bring her application to the notice of the proper authority, so that reasonable provision shall be made to enable her to face the future?
§ Mr. FORSTERThere was some delay at first in settling the dependants' cases, as the scheme was not notified till February last, but matters are now up to date, and delays should not occur in future. The particular case mentioned is being inquired into.