asked the Minister for Defence whether he received from Mr. Thomas Moorhead, of Lanarkshire, Scotland (reference No. 48433) an application for a military service pension; whether he will state the date on which the claim was received; whether the matter has been referred to the referee; and, if so, whether the latter has issued his report regarding the claim; whether he is further aware that Mr. Moorhead was sentenced in 1921 to ten years' penal servitude for his Republican Army activities and has since his release been unable to find employment and is, at the moment, a recipient of unemployment assistance in Great Britain; and whether, in view of those circumstances, he will hasten consideration of his application for a military service pension.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Scottish Claim for Military Service Pension.
An application for a service certificate under the terms of the Military Service Pensions Act, 1934, was received from Mr. Thomas Moorhead, 25 Westwood Road, Newmains, Lanarkshire, Scotland, on the 16th April, 1935, and has been referred to the referee. The referee has not yet reported to me in the matter but he hopes to be in a position to report at an early date. I have received from the applicant particulars of his sentence in 1921, together with particulars of his present circumstances.
In view of the circumstances of the applicant, will the Minister endeavour to secure that an early decision will be conveyed to him?
Yes.