§ Sir CLEMENT KINLOCH-COOKEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he would inform the House of the exact position of the Greenwich Hospital Age Pension Fund; what is the number of pensions given; how many applications from men eligible to receive the pension have been made to the Admiralty during the three years ending 31st December, 1910; how many of these applications could not be satisfied on the ground of want of funds; and how many of the applicants not satisfied had reached the age of sixty years; whether he is aware that the opinion prevails amongst a considerable number of naval life pensioners that they are entitled to receive an age pension of 5d. a day on reaching the age of fifty-five and 9d. a day at the age of 'sixty-five, and that the non-receipt of these pensions is occasioning hardship in many cases; and whether he will take steps to secure a further grant from naval funds as a contribution in aid, so that at any rate no naval life pensioner, on reaching the age of sixty years, if otherwise eligible, shall be without an age pension?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe amount available annually for Greenwich Hospital age pensions is £100,900, and pensions are granted so far as this sum will permit, the awards being made by selection from the oldest and most necessitous candidates. The approximate number of Age and Increased Age Pensions in force at the present time is 8,620. To give the detailed information asked for with regard to applications received during the three years ended 31st December, 1910, would involve a very considerable expenditure of clerical labour in analysing the records, but the approximate aggregate number of men who have applied for age pensions and to whom awards have not yet been made is 2,800. The Admiralty is aware that a considerable number of naval pensioners hold the opinion that they are entitled to age pensions. The whole subject has been fully investigated and reported upon by a Select Committee of the House of Commons (Command Paper, 7th April, 1892). The Board of Admiralty have never lost sight of the claims that can properly be made upon naval funds in respect of a 270 further contribution to the Greenwich Hospital Age Pension Fund.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he can tell us how many men over sixty during the last six months have applied to the Admiralty for their pensions and have been unable to obtain them?
§ Mr. McKENNAI must have notice of that.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman——
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member has been invited to put down a question.