§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Minister of Labour whether his attention has been called to a recent resolution of the York "War Pensions Committee protesting against the ruling of the Civil Liabilities Department, which precludes discharged soldiers from making applications for grants if they were discharged prior to 11th November, 1918, and did not make application before 30th September, 1919; whether he is aware that this ruling inflicts serious hardship on ex-service men, particularly in cases where they have been undergoing training and have applied for grants to set up businesses as a result of that training; and whether he will give directions that each case shall be considered on its merits, and not be subject to strict time limits as at present?
§ Sir R. HORNEThe restriction to which my hon. and learned Friend refers is not a Departmental one, but is laid down by the Treasury Regulations governing the administration of the Civil Liabilities Fund. I have, however, already announced in answer to previous questions in the House that the time limit fixed by this Regulation has been extended so far as the case of disabled men Tinder treatment for their disability is concerned, and I would refer my hon. and learned Friend in this connection particularly to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for Norfolk, N. (Commander King), on 12th February.