§ MAJOR RASCH (Essex, S.E.)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that a Circular was issued in 1865, signed Clarence Paget, to the effect that if a man has been a pensioner for five years at the age of 55, he shall receive an age pension of 5d. per diem; and also that recruiting bills after 1865 stated that a man should receive 5d. per diem in addition after reaching 55; and whether he will reconsider his decision, and grant an 1267 additional pension to these men on attaining the age of 55?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OR THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. EDMUND ROBERTSON, Dundee)The Circular (signed Clarence Paget) alluded to was addressed and applied only to men who, at that time, were inmates of Greenwich Hospital, and the promises therein contained were strictly carried out. The recruiting bill mentioned, said:—"£76,000 a year is employed to grant eligible pensioners additional pensions of 5d. and 9d. a day on reaching the age of 55 and upwards." This has been more than fulfilled, for, as I pointed out to the hon. Member on the 7th instant, a sum of £100,000 is now devoted to the purpose. I am unable to hold out any prospect of diverting any of the sums, now applied for other purposes of the original foundation of Greenwich Hospital, to farther supplementing the very liberal share now allotted to age pensions.