§ MR. MEEHANTo ask the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been called to the Report of the meeting of the Athy (county Kildare) Board of Guardians, held on Wednesday, 13th inst., from which it appears that an ex-soldier, named Thomas Pike, formerly a resident in Stradbally, Queen's County, and chargeable to that district, having served in the 76th Company, Royal Artillery, was invalided from India to Netley Hospital, from which he was discharged on 2nd May, 1905; whether he is aware that Pike was granted a pension of 8d. per day for one year, which expired on 1st April, 1906; and whether seeing that this ex-soldier is now destitute, a confirmed invalid, an inmate of the union hospital at the cost of the local rates, a pension will be granted or a 1009 contribution made to recoup the rates the cost of his maintenance.
§ (Answered by MR. Secretary Haldane.) I have not seen the Report of the meeting in question. The man referred to, whose name is Pilk, enlisted on 23rd July, 1900, and deserted in September 1900; he rejoined in June 1903. He was invalided for illness not attributable to his service as a soldier. The Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital state that he is therefore not entitled to any further pension.