Colonel THORNEasked the Attorney-General whether the Personal Application Department of the Principal Probate Registry, Somerset House, is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except Saturday; whether he is aware that the widows and relatives of deceased soldiers applying at 3.30 p.m. are told that they are too late and must attend on another day; whether, owing to an absence of system, applicants are kept waiting an unnecessary length of time and attended to out of turn; and whether he will give instructions that every facility must be given and every courtesy shown to all personal applicants and no application refused before the official time for the close of business?
§ Sir G. HEWARTThe Department mentioned is open to the public from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., but the clerks work much longer and frequently take work home. The number of applications has increased from 6,653 in 1914 to 10,421 in 1918, and this year the number is still higher owing to the influenza epidemics. It has not been possible to increase the technical experienced staff owing to the number of clerks released for military service and the great increase of work throughout the registry. If the officials have a large number of cases waiting to be dealt with it is possible that further applicants coming after 3.30 p.m. may occasionally have been told that their cases are not likely to be reached that day and advised to attend earlier on another day, being given forms to fill up meantime. Many of the applicants are uneducated and illiterate, and their cases take a long time to deal with. Cases of deceased soldiers' wills require special affidavits to be drawn. Cases are not attended to out of turn. Every facility is given and every courtesy shown to all personal applicants, and I am satisfied that the staff, working under great pressure and in circumstances of very exceptional difficulty, are doing everything possible for the public.