asked the Secretary of State for Air whether he is aware that the dependant's allowance in respect of the widowed mother of 749172 Aircraft-man A. J. Grist, 103 Squadron, Royal Air Force, had to be reconsidered, and that on 11th December the mother was instructed to return her pay warrant book for readjustment; that from then and through the Christmas period no allowance was paid, the mother having to rely upon her widow's pension; and whether steps will be taken to prevent such undue delay in future cases?

At the end of November last the airman referred to requested that the voluntary allotment which was in issue to his mother should cease as from the middle of December and the allotment book was withdrawn from the recipient accordingly. Early in December he lodged a claim for a dependant's allowance to be granted to his mother and this was referred to the appropriate authority for local inquiry. Early in January, the dependant's allowance was put into issue and arrears were paid. I regret that there was some delay in effecting these adjustments. but I am satisfied that, in general, these cases are dealt with as expeditiously as possible.