§ MR. O'DOHERTY (Donegal, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he can state how many Army pensioners are at present inmates of the Belfast Union Workhouse, and what pension each of these old veterans receives; whether he is aware that some time ago the commanding officer of the district refused, when applied to for a military funeral for an old soldier, an inmate of the workhouse, to grant the request thus made, or to in any way assist in providing interment for the old man, and that ultimately the funeral was carried out by subscriptions raised locally; and if, in the future, some arrangements will be made whereby old veterans who have served in the Army will be provided with decent interment at the expense of the State, so as to obviate such funerals being carried out by public subscription.
LORD STANLEYThere are forty-two pensioners inmates of this workhouse, with pensions varying from 4d. to 2s. 3d. a day. I am not aware of the application for a military funeral mentioned, but under the Regulations such funerals can only be granted to officers or soldiers dying during their colour service.