§ MR. KENDAL O'BRIEN (Tipperary, Mid)To ask the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Edward George Henry Parnell, 1st class stoker on H.M.S. "Excellent," who met with an accident at Whale Island, Portsmouth, on January 29th, 1904, was, as a result of the injuries he then received, declared unfit for further service and granted a pension of £28 3s. per annum; that he received notice on April 15th, 1905, to attend on H.M.S. "President," in East India Dock, for re-survey; and that his pension was 528 subsequently reduced to £19 for twelve months; and will he explain what special circumstances warranted a reduction in his pension; is it proposed to-continue his present pension or to restore the original amount, or is it the intention, of the Admiralty to call upon this man for further service, notwithstanding that medical authorities have already declared him unfit for naval duty again.
(Answered by Mr. Pretyman.) The facts are as stated in the hon. Member's Question. The original award was for one year and was based on the report of the medical authorities that the man was not at all able to contribute to his own support. On re-survey, in April last, Parnell was reported to be able to contribute in a small degree to his own support, and his pension was reduced to 1s. 0½d a day, this being the maximum allowable under Scale III. of Article 2134 of the King's Regulations. He will be re-surveyed before the expiry of his present pension in June, 1906, and the pension then awarded will entirely depend upon the medical report. This man cannot be called upon for further service.