§ MR. O'SHEAasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether he is aware that considerable disappointment and inconvenience have, in many cases, been occasioned by the delay which has occurred in sending out orders for the payment of Army pensions under the new system; and, whether he will take steps to add to the great advantages which the new system confers on the pensioners, by arranging that in future all orders for the payment of Pensions shall be issued within a week of the date upon which the latter fall due?
MR. GORSTalso asked, Whether the effect of the new Regulations for payment of Military and Naval Pensions through the Post Office has not been to cause a delay in the receipt of pensions, in some cases, of upwards of fifteen days; and, whether arrangements will in future be made for sending money orders to persons entitled to pensions at such 988 dates as will admit of their receiving their pensions on the days on which they are due?
§ MR. CHILDERSIn reply to my hon. and gallant Friend (Mr. O'Shea), I have to thank him for the commendation which he has given to the new system of paying pensions. As might be expected on the first introduction of the entirely novel plan, there has been some little friction, and this has been aggravated by two circumstances; one, that, in consequence of the very large sum (£700,000) required, it could not be drawn from the Exchequer, under the present or former system, until a few days after the beginning of the financial year; and the second that the first day of payment fell in the Easter holidays—in fact, on the Saturday between Good Friday and Easter Sunday. But in spite of this the payments, on an average, in many districts will be completed at earlier dates than under the former system. I have given orders under which, in the three other quarters of the year, the payments will begin on the 1st of the month, and in April on the very earliest practicable day after the 1st, and this should secure the object of the latter part of the Question. It must be borne in mind that all these pensions are payments in advance—not, like salaries, after the completion of the service. This answer, I think, fully meets the Question of the hon. and learned Member for Chatham (Mr. Gorst).
§ MR. CHILDERSYes; all payments, whether for Naval or Military pensions, are made through the Post Office.