HC Deb 29 October 1956 vol 558 cc110-1W
109. Mr. Dodds

asked the Secretary of State for War the length of time that elapsed between the call-up of T/19046638 Driver E. Scudder under the Emergency Regulations and the payment of the National Service grant to his wife ; what was the reason for the delay; and, in view of the hardship suffered by this reservist's family, what action has been taken to remedy this state of affairs.

Mr. F. Maclean

Forty-seven days. As I explained to the hon. Member in my letter of 10th October, Driver Scudder delayed making his application for over three weeks in spite of having been told that he was entitled to apply on the day after he was called up and again a week later. This was the main cause of the delay. The time taken to examine the application and make the necessary grant was about 3½ weeks. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained in an Answer to the hon. Member on 23rd October, the procedure for making National Service grants has already been speeded up.

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