§ Lieut.-Commander Fletcherasked the First Lord of the Admiralty under what authority the widow of a chief officer in the Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service, on receiving from the Admiralty a sum of £23 14s., representing the difference in pay on her late husband's promotion from second officer to chief officer in accordance with the National Maritime Board agreements, suffered a deduction from this amount of £15, compassionate allowance, which had been granted one year and one month earlier?
Mr. CooperThe compassionate gratuity of £15 referred to was paid in October, 1936, at a time when it was thought that no other payment could be made to the widow under the regulations. It having been decided at a later date that a sum of £23 14s. could be paid in respect of arrears of pay, the gratuity of £15 was held to be a payment on account and accordingly the widow was paid only the balance of £8 14s. I will, however look again into the circumstances of the grant.