Sir H. COWANasked the Minister of Labour whether it has been decided that no assistance can be given, under the training grant scheme, to any candidate whose application was not received before the time limit for such applications expired; whether exception to this rule can be made where evidence is forthcoming that such delay was not due to any fault on the part of the applicant; and whether he is prepared to reconsider individual cases which have been rejected under this rule?
§ Sir M. BARLOWThe last date for application under the Training Grants scheme was fully advertised, and the original date of closure—31st December, 1919—was, again with full publicity, extended by six months to 30th June, 1920. Further, it was agreed with the War Office 1707W that cases where the plea was made that urgent military necessity had prevented an applicant from becoming aware of the contents of Army Council Instructions, should be referred specially to the War Office for scrutiny; and all cases in which the plea is substantiated are still admitted to consideration. No ex-service man in whose case the War Office has substantiated such plea in extenuation of late application has been refused a grant on that ground.