Lieut.-Colonel MALONEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that under the organisation of the King's Fund it was proposed to give grants to all men accepted for training in various walks of life; whether the King's Fund has now been merged in the Civil Liabilities Fund; whether the Civil Liabilities Fund only gives grants of money to men rejoining their previous employment; and whether it is possible for men acceptel for training under the King's Fund before amalgamation to receive grants for the professions or occupations for which they were accepted for training under the King's Fund?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI have been asked to reply to this question. The delay in answering it is due to my desire to examine the facts closely and personally. I am aware that under the rules of governing, the administration of the King's Fund it would have been possible to give grants towards resettlement to men who have been trained at the public expense. This, however, is not the case in respect of the Civil Liabilities Fund, except in those cases where men have been placed in training by the Ministry of Pensions on the clear understanding that assistance would be forthcoming at the end of the training in addition to the Efficiency Bonus and the grant for tools. As has been frequently explained, training is provided by the Government in order to fit the trainees to take up employment after military service. On the other hand, the Civil Liabilities Department seeks, in proper cases falling within their Regulations, to help men restart their old business, and in the cases of disabled men has authority to assist such men, where the course appears expedient to start in business. I should add that the King's Fund has not been merged in the Civil Liabilities Fund. Since the early part of876W 1919 the Civil Liabilities Fund relieved the King's Fund of cases of officers or men who joined or were recalled to His Majesty's Forces on or after 4th August, 1914. Since the transfer of these cases, the King's Fund, which I gather is now ceasing owing to exhaustion, has been restricted to men who were in the regular Army or Navy at the beginning of the war, and the dependents of ex-service men.