§ MR. T. C. H. HEDDERWICK (Wick Burghs)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Alexander Mackenzie, a native of Dingwall, who enlisted in the 2nd Battalion of the Seaforth Highlanders in 1885, at the age of 19 years and 4 months, and after two years' service with his regiment, mainly in India, was, owing to the effects of the climate, incapacitated for service and discharged with a certificate marked exemplary, both as regards conduct and character, and who has since his discharge, and in consequence of his incapacitation as aforesaid, become imbecile and incapable of doing anything for his own support; and, whether there is any fund or institution in connection with the Army for the relief of soldiers who so suffer in the service of the country; and, if so, whether the Under Secretary of State for War will inquire into the case of the said Alexander Mackenzie with a view to the favourable consideration of his claims for relief?
§ *THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordThis man was discharged after a little more than two years' service on account of epilepsy 383 which he developed before he had been a year in India. He appears to have been of weak intellect while in the service, and I regret to say that there is no fund or institution over which the Secretary of State has control from which relief can be given to him.
§ MR. HEDDERWICKMay I ask whether there are not funds, if not under the control of the Secretary of State, under the control of other persons, which would be applicable to a case of this sort?
§ *MR. BRODRICKThere are no funds available for the pension of soldiers. There are the funds in the hands of the Patriotic Fund for the relief of soldiers' widows, but there are no funds available for the pension of soldiers except those granted by Parliament in respect of long service.