HC Deb 10 April 1902 vol 105 cc1442-3
MR. KEARLEY (Devonport)

I beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether the Greenwich pensions payable to the widows, orphans, and dependent relatives of those seamen and marines who were lost in H.M.S. "Condor" will be on the same scale as the Government pensions awarded to the widows and orphans of soldiers who lost their lives in the South African campaign; and whether, seeing that no public appeal on behalf of the "Condor" sufferers is being made, the Government will represent to the Royal Patriotic Commissioners the desirability of their supplementing these Greenwich pensions from the un expended surplus funds in their possession subscribed by the public for kindred purposes.

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

The Greenwich Hospital allowances for which the widows and orphans of those lost in the "Condor" are eligible are on a lower scale than the Government pensions awarded to the widows and orphans of men whose deaths are due to the warlike operations in South Africa. The administration of the Patriotic Fund is altogether independent of the Government, but if there be any individual cases of special urgency, they will no doubt receive consideration from the Commissioners if brought under their notice in the ordinary way.

MR. KEARLEY

The hon. Gentleman has not quite answered the Question. I asked him whether the Admiralty intended to raise the Greenwich pensions to the level of those now established by the Government for the widows and orphans of men killed in South Africa?

MR. ARNOLD-FORSTER

There is no present intention of making any alteration. The hon. Member, I think, is under a mistake. The Navy pensions are not for widows and orphans of men who have lost their lives in action. The are pensions of a different character, peculiar to the Navy.

MR. KEARLEY

Am I to understand that the Admiralty appraises the loss of a life at a lower price than the Army?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order!

MR. WILLIAM ALLAN (Gateshead)

Why is it that the dependents of the sailors on the "Condor" do not get the same recompense, seeing that they lost their lives in the service of the State?

MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! The hon. Member is arguing the question.