§ 33 and 34. Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEasked the Under-Secretary of State for War (1) whether his attention has been called to the Report of the Select Committee on Naval and Military Service dealing with pensions and grants for the widows and children of Navy and Army officers, and will he say how the Government differentiate the case of Mrs. Marion Crawford from that of widows of Army officers coming under Class I., which specifies that the widows of all men who died a violent death due directly and wholly to war service should come under Class I. and be entitled to a pension of £100 a year; and (2) whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Marion Crawford, whose late husband was an officer in the Irish Guards employed in the duty of instructing officers and men of the 4th Guards brigade in throwing hand grenades; whether he is aware that his death 158 was caused while explaining the mechanism of one of the hand grenades held by one of the men, the grenade suddenly exploding and instantly killing both officer and man; whether he is aware that Mrs. Marion Crawford has only been awarded a widow's pension at the intermediate rate, and will he say why she has not received the higher pension of £100 a year, in view of the fact that her husband was killed on active duty in France?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe hon. Member appears to be under the impression that this lady's claim to the higher pension under the recent Report of the Select Committee has been refused, but this is not the case. She was awarded some months ago the pension to which the then existing regulations entitled her. As soon as the new scales recommended in the report have been definitely adopted a fresh award will be made.
§ Colonel YATEWill the new scale apply to all casualties since the commencement of the War?
§ Mr. TENNANTYes, I believe that is so.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIn view of the fact that the finding of the Report to which the right hon. Gentleman alludes, brings this case within the area of first-class pensions, am I to understand that Mrs. Marion Crawford will be awarded the higher pension and her children given a proper pension, together with an allowance for education?
§ Mr. TENNANTI think the answer is if she is entitled she will be awarded it.
§ Mr. HOGGEAre we to understand from the right hon. Gentleman's answer that the Government have accepted the Report of the Select Committee on Officers' Pensions, that the Paper distributed from the Vote Office is the considered judgment of the Government on that subject, and that there is to be no discussion on those pensions as there was in the case of the pensions to the men?
§ Mr. TENNANTThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. As to discussion, that is a matter for the Leader of the House.
§ Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKEIn view of the principle involved and the unsatisfactory answer of the right hon. Gentleman, I shall raise this question on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House.
§ 40. Mr. G. TERRELLasked when the claim to a pension by the widow of Private R. Blanchard, 6th Wilts Regiment, No. 411, who died on the 27th September, 1914, will be dealt with, and the reason for the delay?
§ Mr. TENNANTThere has been a loss of documents in this case, which is being reconsidered on the appeal of the widow. It appears that the man died after twenty-seven days' service from cerebral hœmorrhage, and I am afraid it it unlikely that this can be connected with his military service. An early decision shall be given.