§ Mr. Bowerasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the hardship caused to ex-Service personnel who have been discharged before their normal demobilisation date by the delay in the payment of their gratuities; and if he can now say when these gratuities will be paid.
§ Mr. LawsonThe number of those who have been discharged from the Forces before the release scheme came into operation is very considerable, and the work of examining their records of service and470W assessing their entitlement to war gratuity is correspondingly heavy. This work is proceeding with all possible speed, together with that involved by current releases, and I hope that an announcement will be issued about the end of this month saying how applications are to be made by ex-Servicemen and women. Payment will follow as quickly as the applications can be dealt with, but the process of payment will necessarily take some time.