HC Deb 12 November 1906 vol 164 cc1034-5
MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he will state the number of soldiers now in workhouses who were discharged from the military hospitals suffering from incurable illness contracted whilst serving His Majesty; whether the pensions to which these soldiers are entitled are in whole or in part retained by the guardians of the union in the workhouse of which these soldiers are now inmates; and whether these soldiers are now treated as paupers in every respect as regards clothes, food, discipline, or any money they may receive other than their pensions.

MR. HALDANE

As regards the first part of the Question, the number is not known in this Department. Secondly, the guardians have the same claim on any pensions these men may be entitled to as upon other pensions. The general treatment of inmates of workhouses does not come within the purview of my Department; but it is known that in some cases old soldiers are allowed to retain some portion of their pension for the purchase of small luxuries such as tobacco.

VISCOUNT TURNOUR (Sussex, Horsham)

In view of the extreme importance of this Question, cannot the right hon. Gentleman obtain information as to the number of old soldiers in our workhouses?

MR. HALDANE

I have no machinery for doing it. The question should be addressed to the President of the Local Government Board.

MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he proposes, in next year's Estimates, to ask Parliament to sanction the grant of a sum of money to alleviate the hardships suffered by patients discharged from Army hospitals after a long period of detention, seeing that the only legal refuge for a patient so discharged is the workhouse.

MR. HALDANE

I have nothing to add to what I stated in debate on this matter in the House on Thursday last, †

MR. ASHLEY

Will the right hon. Gentleman say what he expects will be the effect of his answer on recruiting?

MR. HALDANE

I regard the British soldier as a, sensible person, and I do not anticipate it will have the slightest effect on recruiting.