§ 64. Sir REGINALD POLE-CAREWasked whether, when a man serving in the Navy has the misfortune to lose his reason and is sent to Yarmouth Naval Asylum, the whole of the pension he may have earned is appropriated for his keep, that his private property is sold by auction, 482 without reference to his wife, and the proceeds held at Yarmouth until he is discharged or dies, and that his wife and family are meanwhile left penniless; and whether the First Lord of the Admiralty can see his way to recommend some modification of this Regulation?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAUnder existing arrangements the cost of maintenance of men sent to Yarmouth Hospital is borne by Navy Votes, the whole of their Naval pensions being surrendered. In cases of exceptional need, allowances from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, varying in amount from 4s. to 6s. a week, may be granted to the wives of such men, or to persons having charge of their children. Private cash, valuables, and other articles of a personal value which are not likely to deteriorate, accompany men discharged to Yarmouth, and are retained at the hospital pending the patient's recovery or decease. Other effects are sold at the port of invaliding and the proceeds of the sale are dealt with in a similar manner. As regards the moneys retained, the Admiralty are advised that there is no legal authority under which these can be paid away unless a committee or person with like powers is appointed under the provisions of the Lunacy Act of 1890. Any balance of wages due on invaliding is payable to dependent relatives under the provisions of the same Act. With regard to the last part of the question, I may say that we are considering the question of modifying the existing regulations with regard to total surrender of pension in the case of men whose pension exceeds 1s. a day.