§ Sir J. Lucasasked the Under-Secretary of State for India the total number of telegrams sent by his Department in their efforts to get payment of Major Forbes-Leith's war gratuity and over what period; when his overseas service grant is to be paid; and whether the delay in this case is exceptional or is the rule in similar cases.
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§ Mr. A. HendersonFour, extending from 19th January to 21st March of this year. The explanation of the delay is that when it was decided in September, 1945, that payment of gratuities should be made to personnel who had retired before the commencement of the Release Scheme, it was also decided that the payment of gratuities when made here should be in chronological order, commencing with those officers who retired in the Spring of 1940, and it is understood that the Government of India adopted the same principle. Since Major Forbes-Leith did not retire until December, 1944, some delay in his case was therefore inevitable. I am glad to state, however, that so far as payments made in this country by my office are concerned, all arrears have now been overtaken and I trust that they will shortly be overtaken in India also if they have not already been so. I am now awaiting a reply from the Government of India regarding the overseas grant in the case of Major Forbes-Leith.