§ CAPTAIN NORTON (Newington, W.)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that there are some 2,000 veterans, who have served either in the Crimean War or the Indian. Mutiny, now inmates of workhouses; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting a small pension to all those in this position who are over 70 years of age?
§ MR. BRODRICKFrom a Return presented this Session, it appears that in May 1896 there were in workhouses in the United Kingdom 352 men over the age of 60 and without pension who could substantiate their claim to be discharged soldiers, although there is no evidence that they had served in the campaigns mentioned, and there is no reason to suppose that the number is now essentially different. Special campaign pensions have been awarded to Crimean and Indian Mutiny veterans of I0 years' service in 2,737 cases, at a yearly cost of£36,390. In some of these cases the pensioners remain in the workhouse by their own choice, where they are allowed to receive 2s. a week to spend. It is not intended to extend these pensions to men of less than 10 years' Army service.