Mr. T. WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in cases where the dependants of soldiers were only receiving the allotment deducted from the soldiers' pay, the Government is now paying the amount so deducted; and, if so, whether these soldiers are receiving the full increase of pay recently granted?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir; the Government only took over payment of the allotment in cases in which separation allowance was issuable.
§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, when an officer is reported as missing and has left no instructions with his agents, he will give orders that children's allowances shall be paid over to the wife of that officer or any duly appointed guardian?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am considering the matter, and will have it further investigated.
Sir F. HALLasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions whether any communication has been sent to the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation with reference to the case of Mrs. Doe, widow of Private H. E. Doe, No. 17347, late 1st Royal Berkshire Regiment, who was killed on the 17th June, 1916, as to the gratuity of £5 which should have been paid to her; and, if so, what is the nature of the reply?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have been in communication with the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation, and I am informed by them that they cannot now consider any applications for these gratuities. As I have explained in reply to previous questions on this subject, the Corporation did not award the gratuity indiscriminately, and in the case of Mrs. Doe their local representative, to whom they sent a form of inquiry immediately upon the soldier's death, may have found that no expenditure had been incurred which made the grant necessary. Mrs.644W Doe, I may add, made no application herself until several months after her husband's death. In any case, I fear that the matter cannot now be reopened.
§ Mr. WILESasked the Pensions Minister why his Department has refused to grant a pension or gratuity to J. Murray, late No. 50083, 4th Reserve, Royal Scots, who was wounded by a gunshot in the chest and has now been discharged from the Army?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENPrivate James Murray was discharged on the 16th July, 1918, as no longer physically fit for war service in consequence of amputation of the right forearm, the result of an accident in civil life, while he belonged to Class "W" of the Army Reserve. As this disablement was in no way connected with military service, his claim to pension was rejected. It appears, however, that prior to his transfer to Class "W" of the Reserve, Private Murray was examined by a medical board on 23rd February, 1918, and was found to be suffering from disordered action of the heart, which was considered by the medical authorities to have been aggravated by active conditions. It also appeals from his casualty form that he received a gun-shot wound of the chest in August, 1915. In these circumstances steps are being taken to have the man re-examined by a fresh medical board, with a view of ascertaining whether he is now suffering from any disability caused or aggravated by his military service, such as would entitle him to consideration under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant.