§ SIR HERBERT MAXWELLasked the Secretary of State for War, Whether a scheme for the assurance of the lives of British soldiers was submitted to the War Office in February last by Captain Upton, 9th battalion Derbyshire Regiment; whether that scheme has been considered or approved of; and, whether he will inform the House as to the nature of the proposals, and the determination arrived at by the authorities in regard to them?
§ MR. O'DONNELLasked what necessity there was for insuring the lives of British soldiers, so long as the policy of the Liberal Government was only directed against feeble nationalities?
§ SIR ARTHUR HAYTERThe hon. and gallant Baronet the Member for Wigtonshire should, I think, have addressed this Question to me, as representing the finance branch of the War Office under the direction of my noble 555 Friend the Secretary of State for War. In reply, I have to say that a scheme of life assurance applicable to soldiers was submitted by Captain Upton to the War Office. It was duly considered; and it was not thought advisable to adopt the scheme. Speaking of it in general terms, as the bon. and gallant Baronet asks me the Question, the scheme was to give some Insurance Office, which was unnamed, a monopoly of the business to the prejudice of other Insurance Offices; and the Pay Sergeants and Sergeant Majors of the Army were to act as collectors and agents for it. It is considered at the War Office that if any scheme of assurance for soldiers should be adopted, it should be in connection with the national system of insurance which is preparing by my right hon. Friend the Postmaster General, and will be carried on under the auspices of the Post Office.