§ CAPTAIN CRAIG (Down, E.)I beg to ask the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he can state if the 4,700 men qualified for, but not in receipt of, the Greenwich Hospital age pension are dealt with in order of precedence as vacancies occur and funds admit, or is it necessary to bring interest to bear on the Admiralty in order to have a man's name added to the list; is there a register of names of those eligible preserved; and can he state the average number 1681 of men added to the list of pensioners during the past five years.
§ MR. MCKENNAPensioners eligible for Greenwich Hospital age pensions are entered in the register of candidates as such when they make application. Awards are made as vacancies occur by selection from the oldest and most necessitous applicants, and not in order of precedence. It is not necessary to bring interest to bear on the Admiralty in order to have a man's name added to the list, and no regard is paid to such interest. An average number of 439 per annum has been added to the list of men in receipt of the Greenwich Hospital age pension during the five years ended 31st March, 1908.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGasked the right hon. Gentleman whether he was aware that the large number of 4,700 men were discharged under the impression that they were entitled to these pensions and whether they had no chance of getting them unless pressure was brought to bear upon the Admiralty.
§ MR. MCKENNAreplied they had every chance. It was only a question of money. Each case of necessity would be dealt with as soon as possible.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGAre those who are entitled to pensions advised to apply to the Admiralty if they desire to have them?
§ MR. MCKENNAA record is kept of everyone qualified for a pension and where the case is necessitous a pension is awarded as soon as funds will allow.
§ CAPTAIN CRAIGIf I send him the names of men in twenty necessitous cases will pensions be granted?
§ MR. MCKENNAIf they are qualified and I have funds at my disposal they will receive pensions.