12. Sir H. DALZIELasked whether old Navy pensioners whose ages exceed fifty-five years are still retained for service in the Royal Navy; and whether, if there be any, he can say when an order will be issued for their discharge?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAPensioners serving in the Royal Navy are not discharged on reaching the age of fifty-five, and there is no intention of discharging such men so long as their services can be usefully employed.
§ 14. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Captain W. F. Tunnard, Royal Navy, for many years principal naval transport officer at the Bristol Channel ports, stationed at Cardiff, retired some few months before the present War; that he was succeeded by Captain W. R. Parker, Royal Navy; that, in consequence of the illness of the latter, the former resumed his old duties, in the performance of which his past experience and knowledge of local conditions have proved of great value; that Captain Parker has now permanently retired owing to ill-health, and that, as a consequence, Captain Tunnard is again to be retired and his place to be-taken by another officer who has had no experience of Bristol Channel ports or the conditions prevailing there; whether Captain Tunnard is fully capable of continuing the performance of his duties; and, if so, whether steps will De taken to retain his services until after the War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARACaptain Tunnard's reappointment was a temporary measure. The matter is one, I venture to point out, in which the discretion of the Admiralty should be, and may safely be, left unquestioned.
50. Mr. CATHCART WASONasked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that a poor widow who has spent her all bringing her two boys up, who both are now called up, has been refused an allowance on the technical ground that the boys have never actually contributed to her support, the fact being that if they had not been called up the poor widow would now have been in comfort instead of dire poverty; and if he will ascertain if any relief can be afforded her?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for the Bridgeton Division of Glasgow on 2nd November.
§ 74. Colonel YATEasked the Prime Minister whether, considering the fact that there is no decision on the part of the Select Committee that men who have already earned a Service pension are not to receive it in addition to any wound or 759 disability pension that may be subsequently conferred upon them in consideration of further services rendered, he will now issue instructions that a Service pension already earned for past services is not, in future, to be merged in any further wound or disablement pension that may have to be conferred.
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Bonar Law)I understand that my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General is considering this question.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman see that, in determining these pensions, these men are not put on the old Warrant of 1903 so that they cannot draw the pension?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI think it would be better if these questions were put on the Paper.
§ 80. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that childless wives in receipt of 12s. 6d. separation allowance may get an additional 2s. 6d. a week from the local war pensions committees if they are incapable of working or unable to obtain employment; whether he is aware that many widows with only sons are practically in the same position; and whether he will make them eligible?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the LOCAL GOVERNMENT BOARD (Mr. Hayes Fisher)The Prime Minister has asked me to reply to this question. I assume that by widows the hon. Member means a widowed mother. Nine shillings a week is the maximum State separation allowance payable to the widowed mother of a soldier, making, with the allotment of 3s. 6d. a week, 12s. 6d. in all. Persons receiving less than 12s. 6d. a week from the State receive the full amount of their pre-war dependence, and no supplementary allowance is given by the Statutory Committee. Where the maximum of 12s. 6d. a week is paid, and that sum is less than the pre-war dependence, rent allowance may be given if the dependants are eligible by reason of the amount of rent paid.
The Statutory Committee have under consideration proposals for an extension of their Regulations, in order to meet cases of hardship amongst dependants whose pre-war dependence exceeds the maximum amount of State separation allowance, and whose cases are not adequately met by 760 the rent allowances payable under the existing Regulations. They are in communication with the Treasury on the subject.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that he has not, in that long answer, touched the question I have put. All these answers I know. What I want to know is whether a widowed mother can get the extra half-crown which she is now unable to obtain, while a wife can get it?
§ Mr. HAYES FISHERIf the hon. Member had followed my answer he would have discovered that that is exactly the matter in which we are in communication with the Treasury.