§ MR. REES (Montgomery Boroughs)To ask the President of the Local Government Board whether he will move the Admiralty to take upon itself charges incurred by boards of guardians on account of sailors and marines who have been disabled in His Majesty's service.
(Answered by Mr. John Burns.) I have reserved representations on this subject from boards of guardians, and I have communicated with the Admiralty with regard to them. The Admiralty state that the Regulations governing the award of naval pensions provide for the grant of a pension varying from 6d. to 2s. a day, with additional allowance in respect of time served as petty officer and of good conduct badges, &c, in every case in which a man's permanent incapacity can be regarded as directly attributable to the service. The Admiralty also state that men who are invalided from ordinary causes not attributable to though contracted in the service, are awarded pensions for life, or for a limited period, according to the length, nature, and character of their service. The Admiralty further state that special pensions are also awarded in certain cases, from the charitable funds of Greenwich Hospital, to seamen and marines of good character who have been discharged from His Majesty's service, and are permanently or temporarily unable to maintain themselves; but under the Regulations governing the Charity payment cannot be made for any period during which the recipient is an inmate of a workhouse or asylum or is otherwise chargeable to the rates. I have issued a circular to boards of guardians, giving the effect of the reply of the Admiralty.