MR. J. COMPTON RICKETT (Scarborough)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether he could alter the system of paying Army pensioners; whether he is aware that in many cases the money is spent in drink within a day or two, and that for the remainder of the quarter the men are destitute; and whether he would consider the question of paying the pensions weekly in future instead of quarterly?
§ MR. BRODRICKThe reasons against such an alteration have been frequently explained in Parliament. In all cases in which it can be shown that pensioners make habitual use of the unions through spending their pension on drink, and application is made by the guardians to the War Office, the officer paying the pensioners is instructed to pay the men monthly.