Captain COOTEasked the Postmaster-General whether he will cause payment of gratuities due to be expedited in the following cases: Gunner A. R. Mickleburgh, No. 876085, Royal Field Artillery, 34, Ship Field, Sprouston Road, Norwich, demobilised 16th January, and Private A. Carver, No. 553307, Labour Corps, 136, Angle Road, Norwich, demobilised 21st January?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHDelay in both these cases was due to the fact that the regimental paymaster concerned furnished incorrect particulars. Both men have now been paid.
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§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to alleviate possible hardship, and with a view to the removal of a legitimate grievance, he will have inquiry made into the case of Private J. H. Hughes, No. 52889, King's Liverpool Regiment, who was demobilised on 2nd March and whose war gratuity has been handed to the Controller of the Post Office Savings Bank, under remittance roll No. 71650, but who up to the present has been unable to obtain payment of the same?
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHPrivate Hughes's gratuity book, after lying for a considerable time at Kirkdale post office, was returned to the Savings Bank. Arrangements have now been made to pay him his gratuity.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Postmaster-General whether, in order to alleviate possible hardship, and with a view to the removal of a legitimate grievance, he will have inquiry made into the case of Private Robert Holmes, late No. 267659, Labour Corps, 19, Westminster Road, Kirkdale, who was demobilised some months ago, but has, up to the present, been unable to obtain his war gratuity from the Post Office.
§ Mr. ILLINGWORTHPrivate Holmes's gratuity book was, unfortunately, lost in transit. Arrangements have now been made to pay him his gratuity.
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether Private Frank Pritchard, No. 266705, 2/6th Gloucester Regiment, was killed in action in August, 1917; whether his mother, a widow, though-she has repeatedly written to the War Office, Imperial Institute, South Kensington, for the war gratuity due at the time of her son's death, has not received any reply to her letters; whether Mr. G. Buck, local war pensions representative for the parish of Yate, Goucestershire, then wrote to the War Office on 30th May and 13th June, and has received no reply; whether the hon. Member for the Thornbury Division then wrote on Mrs. Pritchard's behalf, and, after receiving a letter of acknowledgment, received an answer from the right hon. Gentleman saying that, owing to the alterations in the scale made last December, thousands of cases were still in arrear and Mrs. Pritchard would have to wait her turn; and, if her turn has not arrived after two years' waiting, when will it arrive?
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§ Mr. FORSTERI have been asked to reply. I must refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Holborn on the 8th inst.
§ Major HENDERSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mrs. Russell, 325, Eglinton Street, Glasgow, S.S., has not yet received the gratuity due to her late husband, Private John Russell, No. 203254, 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, killed in action 29th April, 1918; and whether he can take steps to expedite this payment?
§ Mr. FORSTERI can only refer to my answer to the hon. Member for Holborn on the 8th inst.