§ Mr. Walkdenasked the Secretary of State for War what are the conditions 3W attached to the gratuity of £20 which is paid to a soldier who earns the Distinguished Conduct Medal; why he recently deducted from the pension and allowance to his child the whole or part of the gratuity which was paid to Jack Gray, D.C.M., of 7, Church Street, Thorne, Doncaster, in 1945; and if he will give instructions for this gratuity to be restored in full to this ex-soldier.
§ Mr. ShinwellA soldier who has been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal is, on leaving the Colours, granted a gratuity of £20 if he leaves with no pension entitlement. If he is eligible for a pension he is granted an additional pension of 6d. a day instead of a gratuity. Where, as in Mr. Gray's case, an entitlement to pension is established after the Distinguished Conduct Medal gratuity has been paid, the general practice of my Department is to recover the £20 by withholding for 800 days the issue of the additional pension of 6d. a day. The additional pension thus becomes payable as from the 801st day after commencement of pension. As regards the last two parts of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to him today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions.