HC Deb 08 March 1910 vol 14 cc1296-7
Mr. HENRY

asked whether the duty of 4d. per ounce on silver levied by the Indian Government was payable on the silver imported by the Government for coinage purposes?

Mr. MONTAGU

The answer is in the negative. There would be no object in Government paying duty to itself on its own imports.

ROYAL ASSENT.—Message to attend the Lords Commissioners. The House went, and, having returned, Mr. SPEAKER reported the Royal Assent to the Treasury (Temporary Borrowing) Act, 1910, and the War Loan (Redemption) Act, 1910.

Field Artillery Pension (Michael Burke).

Mr. WHELER

asked the Secretary of State for War what was the amount of the pension paid to Michael Burke, late gunner in the Field Artillery, and at present an inmate of the Chatham Lunatic Asylum?

The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Haldane)

Michael Burke, late Royal Artillery, was awarded a pension of 1s. a day, which has hitherto been paid in full to his wife. From the September quarter, 1909, onwards, the Sheppey Guardians have quoted a higher rate for the cost of maintenance of pauper lunatics and they are now entitled to claim, under Section 24 (2) (f) of the Local Government Act, 1888, the Government contribution of 4s. a week from the county council towards his maintenance. In these circumstances we are obliged to reduce the pension by an equivalent amount under Section 7 (2) of the Superannuation Act, 1887.

Viscount CASTLEREAGH

Is it not a fact that the guardians have not claimed the county council grant?

Mr. HALDANE

I am informed that they have claimed the grant. The whole thing turns on the provisions of the Act of Parliament.

Mr. WILLIAM O'BRIEN

Does the right hon. Gentleman not think that that is a bad way of encouraging the Kellys, the Burkes, and the O'Sheas to fight England's battles?

Mr. HALDANE

I do not know, but I have no discretion in the matter, and can only act under the Statute.

Viscount CASTLEREAGH

Is it not a fact that withholding some portion of this pension is in some way a gain to the War Office?

Mr. HALDANE

I do not know that that is so; certainly if it is we should be very glad to forego the gain if the provisions of the Statute left us free, but, on the contrary, the provisions of the Statute make it imperative that the pension should be withheld.