HC Deb 26 June 1905 vol 148 cc64-6
MR. H. D. GREENE (Shrewsbury)

To ask the hon. Member for the Tun- bridge Division, as representing the Charity Commissioners, whether the Charity Commissioners have formulated any scheme for the reformation of the Shrewsbury municipal charities, in pursuance of the inquiry held in May, 1904; and, if so, when it will be in operation; and whether it is in accordance with the views of the Charity Commissioners that individual charity trustees, by themselves or their friends, can properly distribute doles of money, coals, and blankets without reference to their co-trustees; and, if not, whether the Charity Commissioners can so regulate the selection of trustees, and their number, and so control the distribution as to secure that the benefits of charities shall be enjoyed without allowing undue predominance to any political Party.

(Answered by Mr. Griffith Boscawen.) A scheme for the administration of the Shewsbury municipal charities has been drafted, and is with the King's printers. Before the scheme can come into operation it must be published, and any; objections must be considered by the Commissioners. The scheme constitutes

Rating Widow's pension per week.
From the funds of Greenwich Hospital. Supplementary pension from Naval Funds. Total Allowance for each child dependent on the mother, per week.
s. d. s. d. s. d s. d.
(1) Able seamen and stokers 3 6 1 6 5 0 1 6
(2) Second class petty officers 4 0 2 0 6 0 1 6
(3) First class petty officers 4 6 3 0 7 6 2 0
(4) Chief petty officers 5 0 4 0 9 0 2 0

and the widow of W. G. Ayloff (the only remaining widow) will be dealt with in accordance with this scale when she has furnished the information which has been asked for. The dependent relatives of men who have left no widows may be awarded Greenwich Hospital gratuities of amounts not exceeding one year's wages (exclusive of extra or additional pay) of the deceased.

a new body of trustees, and has been framed by the Commissioners with a view to securing that the benefits of the charities shall be applied, not by any individuals but by the trustees as a body, without reference to any political considerations.