§ MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)I beg to ask the Prime Minister whether he is aware that of the million and a half of money subscribed by the public for the widows and children of soldiers killed in the Crimean War, a large balance remains undistributed, and that nevertheless widows entitled to this bounty are being cast into the workhouse to die; whether he is aware that Mrs. Anne Kerry, whose husband was killed at Inkerman, is now in Loughrea workhouse, her pension from the Royal Patriotic Fund taken from her; that she is very aged and very infirm; and whether he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to enable the nation to fulfil its trust, and to surround this lady in her declining days with such comforts as are her due.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANI am informed that the facts are not as might be inferred from the terms of the Question. So far from the balance being undistributed, as suggested by my hon. friend, the expenditure in annuities to the widows amounted to £14,087 in 1905, while the income for that year was only 86 £4,607. It therefore follows that the balance of the Crimean War fund is being distributed at such a rate as involves its diminution yearly by thousands of pounds, while there remain on the Fund 565 beneficiaries in enjoyment of annuities from the Fund as at 31st December, 1905. I am also informed that no widow has, by the action of the Patriotic Fund authorities, been "cast," as stated by my hon. friend, "into the workhouse." The circumstances under which Mrs. Anne Kerry, referred to in the hon. Member's Question, is now in the Loughrea workhouse, were stated to the House in an answer to a Question put by the hon. Member for South Galway to the Secretary of State for War on 19th November.†
§ MR. BYLESasked whether the fund spoken of was being received for people who were fast disappearing, and whether it was not for the class to which this lady belonged that the money was subscribed.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANThis old lady—I remember the nature of the Answer given to the hon. Member opposite—was taken to the workhouse at the request of her son. At that time she was receiving 10s. a week from the Fund, but her son considered she would be better off in the workhouse infirmary, and she being there maintained from the rates, the 10s. was not continued, but if she came out of the workhouse the 10s. a week would be resumed.
§ MR. DUFFY (Galway, S.)Arising out of the reply given by the Prime Minister, I wish to correct him—
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe hon. Member can only do that by means of a Question.
§ SIR H. CAMPBELL-BANNERMANIt may save time if I suggest to the hon. Member that he should address his Question to the proper authority in the House who gave him his previous Answer if he is not satisfied with the Answer I have given; I am only speaking from memory.
§ MR. DUFFYIf the proper authority is present, and I believe he is—I will put the Question to him. Is the proper
† See (4) Debates, clxv., 375.87 authority aware that this old lady was sent to the Loughrea workhouse upon the express recommendation of the medical officer, and apart from the humiliation to this lady, whose husband was killed at Inkerman, by being placed on the poor rates, will he make a continuance of the grant of a few paltry shillings to brighten the evening of her days, even in an Irish workhouse?
§ MR. HALDANENo, sir, the proper authority is not aware. The War office has no control whatever over the Royal Patriotic Fund or any similar funds, and has no means for making provision for such cases as that to which the hon. Member has referred.
§ LORD E. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)Are we to understand that the Government can do nothing for this old lady?
§ MAJOR SEELYasked if there was any authority in the House to answer the Question.
§ MR. SHACKLETON (Lancashire, Clitheroe)asked whether it was not the fact that this old lady received the allowance for years, the last payment being made of £6 10s. on 1st July for the ensuing quarter, that she entered the workhouse in the beginning of July, and that the payment would be resumed immediately she was removed therefrom.
§ THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. MCKENNA, Monmouthshire, N.)said that was so, and she was in the workhouse at the request of her son.
§ * MR. SPEAKERNotice should be given of any further Questions.