§ Mr. L. SCOTTasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he has been able to consider the claim of the Mersey defence, examination service, naval officers to the benefits of the children's allowance scheme, which was laid before him in full in letters of the 15th January and 21st February last; and if he has not yet been able to consider it, will he be good enough to have the investigation of the case pressed forward as a matter of urgency?
§ Mr. FORSTERI have fully considered the correspondence and was about to reply to my hon. and learned Friend. These officers, though having naval commissions, are serving under agreement with the War Office on civilian terms, and are not eligible for the allowances of naval officers. As civilians they are entitled to be considered for a war bonus on their salaries, and I am taking steps to have this done. Any grant made will have retrospective effect.