§ Mr. WIGNALLasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that when men employed by the Admiralty, and who come under the Government scheme of compensation, are injured and are granted hurt pay, there is a practice in vogue in these cases of waiting for several months before the case is submitted to a higher authority so as to ascertain what further benefit the man is to receive under the Government scheme; whether he is aware that these men are left entirely without the means of sustenance from the date of submission of the case to decision, which in most cases amounts to several months, whether his attention has been drawn to the specific cases of Benjamin George Sharp, 2, Ruskin Road, Hove, employed at the Admiralty works, Southwick injured on the 28th April last: Edward James Reeves, 34, Stoneham Road, Hove, employed at the Admiralty works, South-wick, injured on 30th March, 1919; John Routhan, 46, Islingword Place, Brighton, employed at the Admiralty work South-wick, injured on 23rd May last; and John Thomas Goldie, who was injured on 3rd August last, whilst at work in the Naval Ordnance depot, Royal Arsenal, Woolwich; and what steps he proposes to take in view of the fact that, 245W whilst waiting for the decision of the Admiralty, these men are faced with the prospect of seeking shelter in the workhouse.
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am aware that under present arrangements there is some interval between the cessation of hurt pay and the award of compensation, and steps are at present under consideration by the Treasury with a view to removing all cause for complaint. In the cases specifically mentioned by my hon Friend I may inform him that an interim allowance was issued pending the award of compensation by the Treasury, except in the case of J. T. Goldie, whose claim required further investigation.