COLONEL MILNE-HOMEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office, If any arrangements have been made for granting Government relief to widows and orphans of soldiers who were killed during the Soudan campaign, or who have died of illness then contracted; and, if so, on what scales the relief will be given?
LORD HENRY LENNOXsaid, he desired to put to the Secretary to the Admiralty a Question on the same subject. What arrangements had been made for granting relief to the widows and orphans of the Naval Brigade, the seamen and mariners who were either killed during the Soudan campaign or died of illness since, and on what scale would this relief be given?
§ SIR ARTHUR HAYTERIn answer to the hon, and gallant Member, I have to say that the War Office has proposed and the Treasury has assented to the handing over of the Soldiers' Effects Fund to the Patriotic Fund Commissioners, and that they have undertaken to provide pensions for the widows and orphans of soldiers who died of wounds or from illness contracted during the late campaigns. In doing so, any allowance or pension already granted from charitable funds will be taken into account. The rates will be regulated by the Commissioners, and by them the widow of a private soldier will receive, I believe, 3s. 6d. per week and 1s. 6d. for each child. These pensions to widows will be granted in future wars, and will be in lieu of the gratuity of one year's pay, which until now has been all that the soldier's widow received.
§ MR. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIn answer to the Question of the noble Lord, I have to state that it is in our power under an Act of Parliament passed last year to make an allowance to the widows and children, of men who are killed in service, and no doubt advantage will be taken of that power in the present case. I cannot now state the scale of relief, as no Notice has been given of this Question.