asked the Minister of Pensions whether officers or personnel of the Navy, Army or Air Force killed or injured whilst doing voluntary fire-watching on Government property, such as the Air Ministry or Admiralty, will be treated as having been killed or injured on duty, or whether they will only come under the Civilian Injuries Scheme?

Members of the Naval, Military or Air Forces while voluntarily fire-watching on Government property under an organised scheme will be regarded as on duty, and any injuries arising out of that employment will be dealt with under the Service war pensions instruments and not under the civilian scheme.

asked the Minister of Pensions why he has not been able to give a decision with regard to the claim to pension, which was submitted to him on 22nd February, 1941, by the hon. Member for Tamworth, on behalf of the widow of the late No. 1460572 Gunner J. G. Sutherland, who was killed on 19th November, 1940, by enemy action?

I regret that it has not been possible in the time available to obtain the papers which relate to this case from our office in the North. I will, however, look into it and write the hon. Member as soon as possible.

As it is now seven months since Gunner Sutherland was killed, and four months since I wrote to my right hon. Friend, surely he can give some fuller explanation than he has done?

I am sure the hon. Member is aware of the fact that I wrote him on 25th April and on 12th June on this case, and that he gave me only 24 hours' notice of this question being on the Order Paper; and as we have our records far from London for the sake of safety, it was impossible to get them here by to-day. I can assure my hon. Friend that there has been no delay whatever that has been due to the action of my Department.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that I am not complaining of any inattention, but merely asking him to explain the delay?

When my hon. Friend gets the explanation, he will realise that it is not the fault of the Ministry.