§ Mr. DORISasked the Secretary of State for War when the pension officers of their 1428W respective districts investigated the cases of Private J. Clarke, 14th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment, Private Martin Jordan, No. 6257, B Company. 4th Battalion Connaught Rangers, and Private Drummer Michael Moloney, No. 43223, Royal Field Artillery, with a view to their dependants in Ireland receiving the separation allowance, to which they are entitled; have the dependants of these soldiers yet received any separation allowances; and, if not, who is responsible for the delay; and is he aware that Drummer M. Moloney, on 24th March, 1916, made an allotment of 6d. per day to his mother which has not yet reached her?
§ Mr. FORSTERIn the case of Private Clarke, the local pension authorities disagreed as to the degree of dependence. The matter was accordingly referred to the Appeals Committee for decision, and meanwhile payment of the allowance is being made at the lower rate. Into the cases of Privates Jordan and Moloney, inquiries are being made, and I will let the hon. Member know of their result.
§ Mr. DORISasked the Secretary of State for War whether Irishmen on joining the Army in England are informed that it is necessary to make claims in writing on a prescribed form and within a prescribed time for separation allowances for their dependants; and, if not, will he have an order issued that recruits shall be so informed in future and that, in the cases of those who have already enlisted and who, through ignorance of the Regulations, have not complied with them, the claims of dependants will be received and considered after the prescribed time?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, but I may say that in any case where it appears that a claim was not made within the prescribed time owing to a genuine misunderstanding or for some special reason it is the practice of the War Office to admit a claim for investigation.
§ Mr. E. CECILasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware of the delay in the issue of many separation allowances owing to the impossibility which some of the paymasters find of coping with the number of enlistments; and whether he can see his way to take steps to improve the organisation so as to facilitate the payment of separation allowances with greater promptitude?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have heard of delay in some cases, but it has been due to 1429W delay in furnishing the pay offices with the necessary particulars, not to their inability to cope with the work. I am afraid it is impossible to entirely avoid occasional delays at the time of large influxes, but steps are being taken which it is hoped will reduce them to a minimum.