§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANI beg to ask the Secretary to the Admiralty, whether he will state what is the pension granted to the widow of Lieutenant Smith, who lost his life in the "Cobra" disaster, and what is the rate of pension granted to the widows of the seamen and firemen who lost their lives in the same disaster; and will he say from what source these respective pensions are paid.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERA special pension of £100 a year has been granted to the widow of Lieutenant Smith. This pension is in accordance with the King's regulations, by which it is provided that the widow of an officer of Lieutenant Smith's rank may receive an ordinary pension of £70 a year. A special pension of £100 a year when the officer is drowned on duty, and of £120 when he is killed in action or dies of his wounds. Pensions have been granted to the widows of seamen and firemen who lost their lives on the "Cobra" according to the following scale:—
6 widows of men included in Class I., 3/6 a week.1 in Glass II. at the rate of 4/- a week.4 in Class III. at the rate of 4/6 a week.1 in Class IV. at the rate of 5/- a week.Allowances are made to the children according to the authorised scale. The pension to the widow of Lieutenant Smith is charged to Naval Funds. The other pensions are charged to Greenwich Hospital Funds.
§ MR. WILLIAM ALLANMay I ask the hon. Gentleman why the widows of firemen and seamen do not get State pensions as well as Lieutenant Smith's widow.
§ MR. ARNOLD-FORSTERThe Greenwich Hospital Fund is administered by the State, and for this purpose is practically a State fund.