COLONEL HERBERT (Monmouthshire, S.)I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of No. 3,185 Private Edward Pearce, late Dorsetshire Regiment, who, after completing twenty-four years and ninety-seven days in His Majesty's service, including three campaigns, has been declared ineligible for a pension unless he is sixty-five years of age and in necessitous circumstances; whether this decision is due to the fact that a part of his service was in the Royal Marine Light Infantry; and whether the standard of necessitous circumstances for such cases has been defined by regulation of the War Office or of the Admiralty.
§ MR. HALDANEThe facts are as stated. It was explained to the man at the time of his enlistment that his service in the Royal Marines would not reckon towards Army pension and his enlistment was only allowed as a special case and with that understanding. The standard of "necessitous circumstances" is defined in such cases by this Department.
COLONEL HERBERTWhat is the standard of "necessitous circumstances?" Does it involve the condition that a man should be compelled to pawn his medals or go into a workhouse?
§ MR. HALDANEwas understood to say it did not go so far as that.