§ Captain C. Smithasked the Secretary of State for War whether he can make a statement about the case of 1721056 Fusilier W. Gavine, particulars of which were sent to him on 12th August; whether he is aware that hardship was caused to the wife of this soldier by an admitted error on the part of the regimental paymaster; and whether he will deal more expeditiously with inquiries of this kind from Members of Parliament.
§ Mr. LawsonA credit balance of this soldier's account was notified by the Regimental Paymaster last April at a wrong figure owing to the omission of a previous charge of £8. During May and June the soldier's drawings resulted in a debtor balance of nearly £12, part of which has been recovered by gradual instalments under normal rules including the stoppage of a voluntary allotment to the soldier's wife. In the circumstances, I have given instructions that £8 is to be recredited to the soldier's account. I much regret the delay in dealing with the inquiry, which, as explained on 16th October in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Cardiff (Mr. Callaghan), was due to the exceptional mass of correspondence recently reaching the War Office.