Lieutenant-Colonel Sir A. WARREMasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the conduct of affairs at the Royal Air Force Pay Office at Woking; if he is aware that numerous complaints are being received as to the unbusinesslike methods in operation there, imposing much annoyance and hardship upon men entitled to pay; and if he will have the matter inquired into?
§ Lieutenant-Colonel ARCHER-SHEEasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many demobilised men of the Royal Air Force are complaining of the long delay in getting their gratuity and back pay; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the Royal Air Force Pay Office, Woking, clears up these men's accounts within a reasonable period after demobilisation?
§ Major-General SEELYThe work of the Woking Pay Office has been under constant supervision, and all possible steps have been taken to speed up the clearance of the accounts. Arrears at one time existed owing to an increase in the rate of demobilisation, but those arrears have now been cleared up. The complaints received have been in many cases due to misunderstanding on the part of the men concerned of the deferred payment system. As previously stated, this system 1373W was introduced to enable men who were in a hurry to return to civil life to receive demobilisation in advance of the final settlement of their accounts. All men accepting the scheme signed a personal statement to the effect that the final balance due to them would not be claimed until three months after the expiration of their demobilisation furlough. In spite of this, numerous demands for immediate settlement are being received. In these cases the accounts are being settled several weeks earlier than was promised, and in necessitous cases advances are being made additional to those which were made to the men on their leaving their units. The deferred payment system having served its purpose, has now been cancelled