§ MR. R. W. DUFFasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether it is true, as stated by a military correspondent of the "Times" of the 28th March, that widows of soldiers who are killed in action are not entitled to any pension from the State; and, if so, whether it is the intention of the War Department to make any provision for the widows and families of the men who lost their lives at Isandlana and Rorke's Drift?
§ COLONEL STANLEYSir, in answer to the hon. Member, I have to say that the widows and children of the soldiers in question are not entitled to any provision from the State, and that I am unable to propose any regulation to the Government on their behalf. But pro- 265 vision has before now been made from the Patriotic Fund, and communications have been going on with the manager of that Fund, in order to see whether its provisions can be extended to those cases. I am sorry that there are some technical difficulties in the way, and that I cannot give a more positive answer at the present time.