§ Commander Purseyasked the First Lord of the Admiralty the number of naval war gratuities which have already been paid; whether he is aware that cases of delay have occurred in the payment of gratuities, both to personnel released under the re-allocation plan and in respect of personnel who were invalided or otherwise released or who died during the war; what are the reasons for these delays; and what steps are being taken to obviate them.
Mr. DugdaleThe total number of Naval war gratuities paid to 28th February was approximately 315,000. Arrangements have now been made whereby, when ratings' service documents have not been received by dispersal establishments within a reasonable time, appropriate service details to enable war gratuity to be calculated will be supplied to the establishments from another source. This should reduce, and I hope, ultimately eliminate, delays.
The gratuities of Naval personnel who were invalided or otherwise released or who died during the war are assessed at the Admiralty. In these cases, applications for payment on a form obtainable from post offices were invited by public announcement in September or in December last, according to the category of personnel involved. In view of the very large number of cases to be dealt with and acute shortage of staff, it was made clear by the three Services that some delay in payment was inevitable. This delay has not been reduced by the enormous number of hastening letters, duplicate claims, and other communications which have been received.
Nearly all of the claims so far received from Naval personnel invalided or other- 379W wise released during the war, and more than one half of those relating to deceased personnel, have now been paid. The latter type of case takes longer to settle, as formalities of a semi-legal character are frequently involved. All practicable steps are being taken, and will continue to be taken, within the limitations imposed by shortage of staff, to expedite payment. I hope this reply will be given the widest possible publicity.