§ MR. E. J. C. MORTON (Devonport)On behalf of my hon. Friend the Member for Devonport (Mr. HUDSON KEARLEY), I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it is possible to increase the pension of 3s. 6d. per week allowed to the widow, and 1s. 6d. for each child, of George Evill, stoker, who was killed by the explosion of a boiler on H.M.S. Blake; and whether, in view of the fact that the widow is in such a state of health as to be unable to do any work towards supporting herself and her two children, and that the coroner's jury gave a verdict that the disaster was occasioned by the negligence of the chief engineer, whom they found guilty of manslaughter, and, further, that the foreman, on behalf of the jury, stated in court that they unanimously decided to urge on the Admiralty their view that the widow has a very strong claim for special consideration, and hoped she would be provided for for life and her children looked after until they were old enough to secure livelihood, he will reconsider the case?
§ THE CIVIL LORD OF THE ADMIRALTY (Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAIN,) Worcestershire, E.In view of the 494 widow's state of health, the Admiralty have decided to increase the pension, together with the allowances to children, by a sum of 2s. 6d. a week. The increase is to take effect from the date of her husband's death.