§ 117. Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Secretary of State for War in how many cases, since the start of demobilisation, soldiers on demobilisation leave have been informed that their pay book is missing and as a result minimum rates of pay only have been made during release leave; how many of these books have subsequently been recovered in the offices of regimental paymasters; and what steps he takes to ensure when soldiers declare that they have sent in their books that a thorough search is made.
§ Mr. LawsonI am unable to give the total number of such cases since the release scheme began. but the returns relating to recent releases show that the pay books are not received by regimental paymasters in about 3½ per cent. of cases. The receipt of these books in pay offices is specially controlled and recorded, and whenever a soldier reports that his book was handed in at his unit for despatch, or has been sent by post, a thorough search is made.