Mr. FOOTasked the Paymaster-General if his attention has been drawn to the statement of the jury at the Old Bailey on 27th February that the laxity of the methods in his office conduced to the commission of the crime for which three men were sentenced; and whether he will cause inquiries to be made?
§ Mr. NEVILLE CHAMBERLAINMy attention has been drawn to the statement referred to. I doubt whether it is possible to devise a system of paying pensions and gratuities which will be absolutely secure against fraud on the part of the officials entrusted with the responsibilities for making the payments; but, since 1920, when the forgeries in question took place, measures have been adopted which will have the effect of making such frauds in future exceedingly difficult, and their detection practically certain.