§ 35. Mr. BARNESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether his attention has been drawn to the case of George Berthnall Thompson, No. 140,297, retired naval stoker, who was called up for service in August last, was sent to the West Coast of Africa on His Majesty's Ship "Challenger," and was invalided home in October suffering from paralysis; whether he is aware that, as a result of anxiety about how he was to keep his home going on the pension to which he was entitled, the man committed suicide on 11th January last; and whether, in view of all the circumstances, he will consider the 231 possibility of something being done by way of assisting the widow and three children?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThompson was a pensioner receiving £35 7s. a year prior to being called up in August. When invalided in October his pension would of course continue. If the facts be as stated by my hon. Friend, a pension will be provisionally awarded to the widow according to the White Paper scale of November last.