HC Deb 19 June 1907 vol 176 cc451-3
MR. LONSDALE (Armagh, Mid.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that many widows and orphans of soldiers who have died after lingering illnesses, as the result of wounds or disease contracted during the war in South Africa, and who are ineligible for State pensions under the existing regulations, are in distressed circumstances: and whether, seeing that the funds of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation are insufficient to relieve these cases, he can make any provision whereby these persons may not be driven to seek the refuge of the workhouse.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR WAR (Mr. HALDANE, Haddington)

I am not aware that there are many widows in distressed circumstances on account of the inability of the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to relieve them. The Army Regulations provide pensions for the widows and orphans of men who die, within two years, of wounds or disease contracted on active service. For the rest I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury to a Question put on the 13th June by my hon. friend the Member for North Salford.†

MR. LONSDALE

But how about the men who died after two years? Cannot any provision be made for the widows and orphans in those cases?

MR. HALDANE

I have said we only deal with cases in which death occurs before two years have passed.

MR. LONSDALE

Is not State assistance given to widows and orphans of soldiers who died of wounds or disease two years after the Crimean war?

MR. HALDANE

asked for notice of the Question.

MR. FLAVIN (Kerry, N.)

How many of these soldiers are in Irish workhouses?

MR. HALDANE

I cannot say.

MR. FLAVIN

Thousands of them are on our rates.

MR. BYLES (Salford, N.)

asked if the Patriotic Commissioners had not funds stored away in the bank which would provide for these cases.

MR. HALDANE

I have no control over that body. † See (4) Debates, clxxv., 1594.

MR. BYLES

Has any member of the Government control?

[No Answer was returned.]

MR. LONSDALE

Having regard to the generous treatment accorded to the Boers, will not the right hon. Gentleman induce the Treasury to find the £50,000 required to keep from the workhouse the widows and children of those who gave their lives to keep the British flag waving in the Transvaal?

[No Answer was returned.]