§ MR. MORRELL (Oxon, Woodstock)I beg to ask the Under Secretary of State for War whether, with a view to an arrangement by which Army pensioners might receive their pension money at short intervals and recognising the difficulties attending frequent attestations, he would consider the provision of an attested quarterly form with weekly dated coupons attached, each coupon to be payable on or after the date named thereon on being presented attached to the main form at any money order post office?
THE UNDER SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. W. ST. JOHN BRODRICK,) Surrey, GuildfordArrangements are being made to pay pensions weekly to all pensioners serving the Crown at weekly wages. The demand for a more frequent payment of pensions generally comes mainly from Boards of Guardians who see only a small and perhaps not the most deserving section of pensioners. On the other hand it is well known that the great majority of pensioners prefer the present system, and it seems a doubtful policy to deprive them of the advantage of it because a small minority make a bad use of their resources. The suggestion made by my honourable Friend will be considered, but the trouble to pensioners of going to receive the money 52 times in the year instead of four, would, I fear, lead to discounting the "coupons" at very low rates.