§ MR. LOUIS SINCLAIR (Essex, Romford)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the widow, married on the strength of the regiment, and two young children of Private Harry Hasler, Reservist, of the 2nd Somerset Light Infantry, who died of enteric fever at Kimberley on 9th November last, have been unable, in spite of repeated efforts, to obtain any pension or allowance from the War Office, and if it had not been for private assistance would have been compelled to enter the workhouse; and, seeing that unless some provision be made this soldier's widow and children will shortly have to apply for parish relief, will he instruct the proper authorities to make an immediate allowance, taking into consideration also the fact that nearly five months have passed without any grant being made.
§ MR. BRODRICKI am afraid that my hon. friend has been misinformed. As soon as Private Hasler's death was reported from South Africa, the case was 50 notified to the Patriotic Fund and the Daily Telegraph Fund. The former made an initial grant of £7, and a weekly allowance of eight shillings, and the latter fund made an initial grant of £26, and an annuity of £10. The widow will come under the new Government pension scheme, though some of the assistance referred to will possibly then cease. I must point out to my hon. friend that, as I have already stated, the new scheme will only come into effect on the 1st July, and that therefore the War Office was not in a position to make any grant from Government funds.
§ MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)And what is going to happen until the 1st July? Are these People to be left destitute?
§ MR. BRODRICKwas understood to reply that no doubt assistance would be forthcoming from private funds.