HC Deb 31 December 1916 vol 88 cc1622-4
70. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to submit a new Royal Warrant dealing with pensions before the Recess?

Mr. FORSTER

I am afraid that my right hon. Friend the Pensions Minister will not be in a position to lay a new Royal Warrant before the Recess.

Mr. HOGGE

Can my right hon. Friend say whether the Pensions Minister has power, under the new Act, to do this?

Mr. FORSTER

I do not think the new Act has altered the power of the Government to do it.

76. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Prime Minister whether he can now state the result of the Treasury decision with regard to increased separation allowances?

Mr. BONAR LAW

A Committee of Ministers is considering the matter, and a decision will be arrived at without delay.

Mr. HOGGE

May we take it my right hon. Friend will be able to announce this before we come back?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I certainly expect so; there will be no delay in the matter because the House is not sitting.

100. Mr. FINNEY

asked the Comptroller of the Household, as representing the National Health Insurance Commissioners, whether he has received any resolutions from friendly and approved societies protesting against the action of the Government in not paying adequate pension allowances to soldiers and sailors suffering from disease or disablement caused during the present War, and urging upon the Government the necessity of making full provision for such men from Imperial funds instead of, as at present, throwing a part of the burden on the funds of approved societies, which funds it was never intended should bear liabilities of such a character; and whether he can say what steps the Government will take to remove the grievance?

Sir EDWIN CORNWALL (Comptroller of the Household)

I have received several representations from approved societies with regard to the effect on their finances of disablement caused by the War, and I can assure the hon. Member that the matter in all its aspects is receiving the most careful consideration.

106. Mr. WING

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he is aware that in cases of sons who enlist and whose fathers are soldiers that the mother does not in practice receive any Government allowance on the son's account, and in case of the son's death allotment money is stopped immediately, as in the case of Driver W. Geehan, No. 1316, Royal Field Artillery, who was wounded on the Somme in September, died in hospital on 12th October, and his mother served with a demand note for return of identity certificate 16th October; is he aware that such prompt action in withdrawal of payment is in contrast with the granting of payment; and, seeing that in other cases allotment and allowance continue for six months after death, will he say why there should not be continuance of payment of allotment for the same period where allowance is not paid as in above cases?

Mr. FORSTER

When a soldier's mother is already in receipt of the full rate admissible for a soldier's wife, she is not entitled to anything further from Army funds. The machinery of the Pay Department is, nevertheless, placed at the disposal of her soldier son for the purpose of regularly remitting a portion of his pay if he so desires. When he ceases to draw pay, these remittances necessarily end.

Mr. WING

Is the hon. Gentleman aware, or is it a fact, where there is an allowance in addition to the allotment on account of the dependency of the mother on the son, where the father is in the Army, that in other cases you do grant it, and upon what principles is it omitted in such a case as I have mentioned?

Mr. FORSTER

Where there is a separation allowance, it has been ascertained that there was prior dependence on the soldier. In this case there was not.