MR. GORSTasked the First Lord of the Treasury, Why the Royal Patriotic Fund has not been so managed by the Royal Commission as to leave funds available for the relief of the widows and orphans of the soldiers and sailors who have fallen in the Egyptian War?
MR. GLADSTONESir, the state of the case is this. The hon. and learned Gentleman is correct in intimating that under the original Commission the Royal Commission were not only not under any obligation to reserve any balance for future wars, but they were restricted by the terms of the Commission from doing so. In 1881 a change was introduced into those terms, and they are now enabled to devote any savings which may accrue to a general war fund for the widows and orphans of soldiers. This provision has not been acted upon, and I am not aware that there are funds available for acting upon it at present; but it is under the consideration both of the Commission and of the Government—that is to say, the War Department. It will be satisfac- 120 tory to the hon. and learned Gentleman to learn that, as we are informed, the actuaries estimate that eventually there will be a saving to a considerable amount.
§ SIR H. DRUMMOND WOLFFasked if that amount would be available for the widows and orphans of sailors as well as of soldiers?
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, he did not like to answer that, not having referred to the Commission. The only information he obtained referred to soldiers.
§ Subsequently,
§ SIR JOHN HAYasked, Whether the rules governing cases of claims by widows of soldiers were applicable to the widows of seamen and Marines?
MR. GLADSTONEsaid, he had heard that was so, and that the widows of seamen and Marines were entitled to participate in the benefit of the fund.