§ 127. Captain Crookshankasked the Minister of Labour why he sent no reply to the telegram, dealing with the case of Mr. R. A. Jackson, dispatched on 22nd February by the right hon. and gallant Member for Gainsborough, until 18th March; whether the delay was due to the Post Office and, if not, what steps he is taking to see that urgent personal cases submitted to him by Members of this House are dealt with more promptly; and what disciplinary action he has taken with regard to those responsible for the delay in this particular case.
§ Mr. Isaacs:The right hon. and gallant Member's telegram was received by me on 22nd February and immediate inquiries were made to ascertain the reason why Mr. Jackson's resettlement grant had not been paid. These inquiries revealed that there had been a misunderstanding of instructions issued to the Regional Office concerned, and resulted in payment being made on 2nd March. I very much regret that the right hon. and gallant 48W Member was not notified of this fact before 18th March, and that his telegram was not acknowledged at the time of its receipt. As the circumstances which led to misunderstanding in this case were quite exceptional and are not likely to occur again, no question of disciplinary action arises.