Mr. THOMSONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if it is allowable to make deductions from a man's gratuity on account of hospital treatment; if so, under what Regulations; and, if such deductions are not allowable, why has Stoker James Robinson, 1st class, No. K 24942, Royal Navy, of 48, Prince Charles Street, Middlesbrough, not received the £15 gratuity due to him on his discharge about January, 1918?
§ Dr. MACNAMARANo, Sir! It is not allowable for deductions to be made from war gratuity on account of hospital treatment. Stoker James Robinson, who entered the Royal Navy on 17th March, 1915, and was discharged on 2nd September, 1915, is ineligible for the gratuity, as his total service was less than six months. without any service at sea or overseas.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why, if war gratuities owing to widows and other dependants of soldiers are being distributed according to the dates of death, the widow of Private Lawrie, No. 62303, 133rd Company, Machine Gun Company, who was killed in action September, 1918, has already received her gratuity, whilst the widow of Private J. Russell, No. 203254, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action 29th April, 1918, and the widow of Private J. Hutchison, No. 201474, l/5th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, killed in action on 10th November, 1917, have not yet received their gratuities?
§ Mr. FORSTERWhen the death has occurred recently, we have, in some cases, been able to deal with the gratuity at the same time as we have dealt with the rest of the estate. This has not in any way delayed payment of the gratuity in cases where the rest of the estate has already been distributed, which are being dealt with in order of date of death.