§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether the sum of £56,000, taken on the War Office Estimates and stated in the memorandum of the Secretary of State for War to be to cover the grant of pensions from 1st April next to the widows and children of non-commissioned officers and men who have died as the result of active operations, is the whole sum contemplated to be granted for that purpose: and whether as stated in Return [Cd. 462] 1901, up to 1st February, 1901, 12,354 have actually been killed or died, and that 28,630 others have been wounded or are still in hospital, and if this sum of £56,000 is to provide for all the widows and orphans thus created as well as any additions that may yet be made to the list before the war is over.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE WAR OFFICE (LORD STANLEY,) Lancashire, WesthoughtonThe sum referred to was taken as the charge likely to accrue during the year for pensions to widows and children of non-commissioned officers and men who have died. My hon. friend will realise that only a proportion of the army is married and the number of those wounded docs not affect the charge, as they are otherwise provided for.