asked the Minister of Pensions the amounts raised by the staff of the Pensions Issue Office for the benefit of disabled ex-service men in the years 1922, 1923 and 1924, respectively; what were the number of the clerks and writing assistants employed at this office in each of the years; and what was the average wage received?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY:

These efforts to raise money to provide entertainments on behalf of disabled ex-service men are unofficial, and I have no detailed information as to the sums raised, but I understand they amount to thousands of pounds. The numbers of clerical officers, temporary clerks and writing assistants employed at Pensions Issue Office on the 1st July, 1922, 1923 and 1924, were 4,382, 3,935 and 2,834 respectively, and the average wage of these officers were approximately £146 a year.

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman say where did the Minister get the figure of hundreds of thousands of pounds mentioned in the Debate on the Estimates?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY:

I think either the hon. and gallant Member must have mistaken what was said or it is a slip on the part of my right hon. and gallant Friend. As I say in my answer the sum did amount to thousands of pounds, which these people have voluntarily raised for the benefit of ex-service men.