asked the Minister for Defence if he will amend the Defence Force regulations so as to enable payment of gratuities and deferred pay to be made this year, notwithstanding the fact that some members entitled to gratuities and deferred pay may exercise the option offered to them to remain in the Forces for a further short period, not exceeding one year, as prescribed in forms now being issued.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Defence Force Regulations.
Gratuities are being paid to those former members of the Defence Forces who have left the service or who have been transferred to the reserve and who are eligible under the regulations. Gratuities are also being paid in respect of eligible deceased members of the Defence Forces. Deferred pay is being paid to eligible personnel who have left the service and in respect of eligible deceased members of the Defence Forces.
Deferred pay accrued due up to the 26th September, 1945, is also being paid to non-commissioned officers and men of the permanent force and to non-commissioned officers and men of the reserve and durationist classes who re-enlist for service in the permanent force.
It is not proposed to amend the regulations so as to allow of payment of gratuities to serving members of the Defence Forces or of deferred pay to serving members who do not propose to remain in the Army.
Is the Minister aware that a number of men have substantial gratuities coming to them if they get out quickly, say before Christmas? In the meantime, a form has been sent to those men giving them the option of remaining on for three, six or 12 months. A number of them are most anxious to remain on, but they have incurred debts and they were expecting to get the gratuity before Christmas. Could the Minister give these men an advance on the gratuities now due to them and so prevent a spread of the discontent that is growing amongst the men who have served so faithfully?
The Deputy is again making speeches.
Perhaps it is my stupid way of putting a supplementary question, but I know that these men have got forms asking them if they are prepared to stay on and not put themselves into the market while there is so much unemployment. They are anxious to stay on but they want a grant of at least £20 for Christmas in order to pay their rent and give their children a happy time in the festive season. Will the Minister consider that point and give them a small grant to enable them to have a happy Christmas?
Practically every section of the Army, it has been arranged, will get the gratuity in due course, with the exception of those men who have still some time to serve and who have not accepted the opportunity to re-enlist. I think it is highly desirable that every man leaving the Army should have these sums of money at his disposal. At present every serving soldier has his pay, his wife's pay, his children's pay and so on, and I think it very desirable that each of these men when leaving—it may be in only a short time—will have that full amount of money coming to him, which will be of more value to him as a bulk sum rather than in the shape of instalments doled out to him.
Some of these men, in anticipation of getting their gratuities before Christmas, incurred debts even with their landlords, and I know one case of a man——
The Deputy is making another speech and repeating his question.
Perhaps if I commence with "If"——
That does not make any difference. The Deputy is repeating what he has already said twice.
I will try to keep within the bounds of order. I do not usually make long speeches here, but Question Time is my opportunity to bring forward matters which I think should receive consideration. I put down questions when people bring honest and legitimate grievances to me and I now ask the Minister if he is aware that a soldier owes his landlord £16, that the Minister's Department owes that soldier £100 gratuity, and that the man is being evicted because he cannot find the £16 to pay his rent. I ask him to save that type of man by giving him a grant out of what the Department owes him.