§ 99. Mr. L. M. Leverasked the Secretary of State for War if he will order an immediate inquiry to be held concerning two communications received on 6th February, 1959, from his Department by the widow of Number 22808850 Corporal John Rochford, who died in Cyprus on 7th January, 1959, one of which enclosed his death certificate and the other informing her that her husband's application for her and her family to join him in Cyprus had now been approved; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. SoamesI deeply regret the added distress which was caused to Mrs. Rochford by this mistake following on the death of her husband.
At one time all applications for families to join their husbands overseas 209W were examined by record offices before they were granted, which reduced to a minimum the risk of such an error. Five years ago this particular check was abolished in order to speed the process of re-uniting families. About 50,000 applications have been dealt with since then without incident, but in view of this distressing case I am instituting a procedure which should prevent anything similar happening again.