MR. KEAELEY (Devonport)I beg to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the fact that the widows and orphans of those seaman and marines who lost their lives in the recent disasters to H.M.S. "Cobra," "Condor," and "Mars," are only entitled to pensions of 5s. 6d. for the widows and Is. per child per week, and are not eligible for pensions on the scale awarded by the Government to the widows and orphans of soldiers who fall in war, which range from 5s. to 10s, for widows and 1s. to 2s. per child per week, the Government will remove the disability; whether, failing the ability of the Government to afford any augmentation from State funds, they will consider the advisability of soliciting the Lord Mayor to make an appeal to the benevolence of the nation to supply such additional funds as may ensure these sufferers sufficient to save them from destitution.
§ MR. REGINALD LUCAS (Portsmouth)I beg also to ask the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether, in view of the disasters connected with H.M.S. "Condor," and H.M.S. "Mars," following upon the loss of H.M.S. "Cobra." His 1184 Majesty's Government will consider the possibility of charging the pensions of widows of seamen so killed upon public funds instead of upon the funds of Greenwich Hospital, which are now inadequate to meet the existing claims of old seamen who are qualified to receive the Greenwich Old Age Pensions.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe matter is still under consideration, and I am unable at present to give any answer.
§ MR. KEARLEYIs the matter under the consideration of the Admiralty or of the Treasury?