HC Deb 16 August 1916 vol 85 cc1869-72
35. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Secretary of State for War whether, when a soldier in receipt of a pension is admitted to a lunatic asylum, any part of his pension is paid to the asylum authorities; and, if so, what arrangements are made for his wife and family?

Mr. FORSTER

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made yesterday in answer to the hon. Member for the Attercliffe Division of Sheffield.

Mr. HOGGE

What arrangements are made?

Mr. FORSTER

If the hon. Member will look at the numerous answers I have given he will see that the matter was fully dealt with.

40. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTT

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether any provision is made for financial assistance in the case of an only son, unmarried, who threw up a good position to enlist, who has been promoted to a commission, and whose widowed mother has, since his promotion, lost all her means of support and been rendered destitute?

Mr. FORSTER

Assistance is given in certain respects by the Military Service (Civil Liabilities) Committee if there was dependance before joining the Army.

Mr. SCOTT

Is there any provision for a case of this kind of an officer whose mother has been rendered destitute and who has absolutely no means of support?

Mr. FORSTER

I hope in such a case the officer or those who are interested in his case would make application to those bodies which have authority to deal with the question.

Mr. SCOTT

Is it not the case that the fund for civil liabilities only deals with a few specific questions like rent and insurance, and provides nothing at all for the maintenance of a dependant?

Mr. FORSTER

I think that is so.

Mr. SCOTT

Then will the hon. Gentleman answer the question on the Paper, whether any provision is made for a case of this kind?

Mr. FORSTER

What the hon. Member wants to get out of me and what I say quite frankly is that Army funds do not provide separation allowances in the case of officers' dependants. Where officers' dependants are in need of assistance there are bodies—the Statutory Committee and the Civil Liabilities Committee—to which application should be made.

Mr. SCOTT

Has the Statutory Committee power to give allowances in these cases?

Sir E. CARSON

Does not this fact, that the separation allowance is lost, prevent many men from taking commissions?

Mr. FORSTER

I know it has prevented some. I cannot say how many.

41. Mr. BARNES

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that numbers of discharged soldiers are not receiving the 10s. or 20s. per week (single or married, as the case may be) which had been promised them pending decision of question of pension; is he aware that some of these men are said to be destitute, and that in one case of a wounded man his wife had had to maintain him by charing, as he had been given nothing to live on; is he aware of the feeling of disappointment of any adequate steps being taken by the War Office to meet this provision of temporary need; and will he give directions that soldiers shall be kept on pay till their cases have been disposed of, and that then, if adversely disposed of by the War Office, that the War Office should intimate the fact to the local committee of the Naval and Military War Pensions Statutory Committee, so that they can be automatically dealt with by that body?

Mr. FORSTER

I am sorry to have to acknowledge that there has been delay in a number of cases. Efforts have been and are being made to expedite the issue of these allowances. Real progress has been made, but there is room for further improvement. I am giving the question my close personal attention daily, and I can assure my right hon. Friend that everyone is most anxious to get the matter satisfactorily arranged as soon as possible.

Mr. BARNES

Will the hon. Gentleman answer the last part of the question as to continuing the men on pay?

Mr. FORSTER

There are very considerable drawbacks to doing that, but if I cannot get this man a proper arrangement in the course of the next few days I shall be driven to take the course the hon. Member suggests.

54. Mr. W. THORNE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Andrew Barton, No. 37652, 18th Cheshire (Labour) Battalion; whether he is aware that this man became a victim to diabetes and has been discharged without any allowance or pension; and whether, in view of the fact that the man is at present, and will be for some time, unable to do any work, he will make inquiries into the matter with a view to granting the man some means of support?

Mr. FORSTER

Inquiry is being made, and my hon. Friend will be informed of the result as soon as possible.