§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)To ask the Secretary of State for War whether he knows that a new association, called the Crimea and Indian Mutiny Veterans' Association, has been formed in Manchester for the sole purpose of assisting men who fought for their country at the battles of Alma, Balaclava, Inkermann, Sebastopol, Delhi, Lucknow, etc.; that it is appealing for the sum of £1,600 to assist these old men; what were the amounts contributed by the public to the Royal Patriotic Fund after the Crimean War and the Indian Mutiny; how much of those funds still remain; and whether some of this money could not be appropriated to the use of the Manchester association.
§ (Answered by Mr. Secretary Haldane.) I have no knowledge of the particular association referred to, but I am aware that similar associations exist in some large towns. The money subscribed by the public to the Royal Patriotic Fund was solely for the benefit of the widows, children, and dependent relatives of officers and men of the naval and military forces of the Crown. It cannot be applied to the relief of ex-soldiers. The total subscribed was £1,500,000, and a balance of about £85,000 still remains. About £440,000 was subscribed to the Indian Mutiny Relief Fund, but no money is available for fresh grants from this source. I may add that the administration of those funds is not in the hands of my Department, but necessitous survivors of the Crimean and Mutiny campaigns are eligible for small Army pensions, varying according to their age and necessities.