§ 45. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been 1790 called to the fact that newly-married wives are entitled to separation allowance although there has been no pre-war dependance on their husbands; whether soldiers who are now so situated as to wish to secure separation allowances for mothers who have become widows since War broke out are barred because there has been no pre-war dependance; and whether he proposes to take steps to deal with the matter?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe hon. Member raised this question in Debate on 21st June last, and I then replied to him. I can add nothing to the reply I then gave him.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say why it is that the War Office consider this question of pre-war dependance in the case of wives of soldiers and not in the case of mothers who have become widows?
§ Mr. FORSTERThat is for the Select Committee to decide.
§ 58. Mr. JOWETTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the recommendation contained in the Special Report of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Services (Pensions and Grants), concerning disablement pensions, will apply to the case of M. Louglin, of No. 1, Maud Street, Bradford, who was discharged from the Army in 1901 owing to rheumatism and heart weakness contracted on active service during the South African War after serving with the Colours for fifteen years and sixty-six days, and whose pension amounts to 10d. a day only, although he is now totally disabled?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe recommendations of the Select Committee only apply to-cases arising out of the present War.
§ 68. Mr. L. SCOTTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether His Majesty's Government accepts the view expressed in Sir George Murray's Report that it is the duty of the State not only to pension disabled sailors and soldiers but also to train them and otherwise fit them for civil employment, and so far as practicable to assist them in obtaining it; and to find all the money required for such purpose?
§ Mr. McKENNAThe training of disabled officers and men will be one of the duties of the Statutory Committee to be set up under the Pensions Bill.
§ Mr. McKENNAI think my hon. Friend is fully aware of all that has been said on the subject in Debate.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman say I am not right in assuming that the Government will provide no money?
§ Mr. McKENNANO, Sir. I am quite sure my hon. Friend is wrong in assuming that.
§ 69. Mr. SCOTTasked whether His Majesty's Government intends to ask Parliament to provide the Statutory Committee appointed by the Naval and Military War Pensions Bill with all money necessary for the efficient discharge of its duties in regard to disabled officers and men under Section 3, Sub-section (1) (i) of the Bill as amended in the House of Lords; and what method is proposed by His Majesty's Government for ensuring full Parliamentary control over the Statutory Committee in its performance of such duties?
§ Mr. McKENNAI would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the statements which I have made in this House with regard to the intention of His Majesty's Government to provide any necessary funds which may be needed for the work of the Statutory Committee. With regard to the last part of the question, I would refer him particularly to Clause 1 (2) (4) of the Pensions Bill.
§ 70 and 71. Mr. SCOTTasked (1) whether, in the case of disabled men desiring to earn a livelihood by work upon the land, His Majesty s Government propose that the central authority to deal with the problems of training and providing such men with opportunities for such employment should be the Board of Agriculture; if so, whether His Majesty's Government will propose or accept an Amendment to Clause 3 of the Bill giving effect to such opinion, and limiting the functions of the Statutory Committee, in respect of men desiring agricultural employment, to that of ascertaining their wishes and communicating the necessary particulars to the Board of Agriculture; and (2) whether His Majesty's Government intends in any, and what, way to link up the administrative body or bodies to whom is entrusted the duty of finding 1792 employment for disabled men with the administrative bodies to whom will hereafter be entrusted the duty of finding employment for the able-bodied on discharge from military and naval duty; and particularly whether, in the case of agriculture, both functions will be given to the Board of Agriculture?
§ Mr. McKENNAI am not at present prepared to make a statement with regard to able-bodied men discharged from naval or military service. It is proposed in the Pensions Bill to set up a special sub-committee of the Statutory Committee to deal with the care of disabled men, and I have no doubt that the Board of Agriculture will be represented on this sub-committee.