asked the Minister for Defence if he is aware that a claim by John Bolger under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, was submitted to the Board of Assessors on November 16th, 1924, and heard on 23rd October, 1925; and if he will state the cause of delay in arriving at a decision in this case.

There is a difficulty in coming to a final decision on Mr. Bolger's claim owing to the fact that he did not hold any of the ranks specified in the second schedule to the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924. I regret the delay, and am hastening my consideration of the matter as much as possible.