HC Deb 09 July 1897 vol 50 c1459
SIR T. ESMONDE

On behalf of the hon. Member for Cork, I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, (1) with regard to the case of Mr. Michael Saunders, of Evergreen Road, Cork, who has twice recently applied for the Greenwich Hospital Age Pension, having attained the prescribed age of 55 years in 1892, whether he has ascertained that Saunders suffers periodically from the effects of sunstroke with which he was attacked while on duty serving on H.M.S. Rattlesnake, on the West Coast of Africa, in the year I864, during the Ashantee War; (2) whether in the natural course of things it is usual to grant this pension at the age of 55; and (3) whether, as Saunders is now 60, it will be granted to him?

THE SECRETARY TO THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. W. E. MACARTNEY,) Antrim, S.

This man was medically surveyed in May 1896, and the medical officer stated as follows: — He had a slight attack of sunstroke when in Ashanti many years ago, and gets frequent attacks of giddiness since then. With this exception, he is in very fair health. He is 60 years of age, and is an active man for his age. As he has no illness, he can contribute materially to his own support. As his case was not as pressing as those of other applicants, he was not granted the pension in July 1896, when he last applied. The answer to the second paragraph is in the negative. Saunders will be 60 years of age in October next. He will be medically surveyed prior to that date with a view to the award of Age Pension.