§ Viscount Hinchingbrookeasked the Secretary of State for War, by what Act or Order pensions or grants are payable to dependants of persons killed as the result of accident with War Department transport; whether any differentiation is made between accidents taking place while transport is driven on duty and while driven off duty; and if so, whether he will do away with such differentiation?
§ Captain MargessonProvision for pensions or grants to dependants of persons killed as the result of accidents with War Department transport is not made by Act or Order but it is the practice of my Department to pay compensation for injuries inflicted on civilians by the negligent driving of Army vehicles in circumstances in which, if the Department had been a private employer, it would have been legally liable for the torts of its drivers. When the use of the vehicle is unauthorised, compensation from public funds is not therefore paid as a general rule, but special consideration is given to particular cases according to the circumstances in which the use of the vehicle was obtained.