HC Deb 13 June 1917 vol 94 cc926-7
24. Sir FRANCIS BLAKE

asked whether the widow of a captain in the Territorial Force, who has held the rank of lieutenant-colonel for two years and commanded his regiment in France with distinction, would, in the event of her husband dying from wounds or sickness caused by active service after his return home, receive the pension of the widow of a lieutenant-colonel or a captain?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)

If an officer is wounded whilst holding temporary rank and dies as the direct result of the wound, his widow is eligible for the pension appropriate to her husband's acting rank. If, however, he relinquished temporary rank before being wounded, or dies from sickness attributable to military service, the rate of pension, under the present regulations, is governed by the substantive rank. My right hon. Friend is considering in connection with the new officers' warrant the case of the officer dying from sickness.

91. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Pensions 'Minister whether he is aware that Private J. H. W. Peters, No. T4/107,838, of the Army Service Corps, was in excellent health and earning as a carpenter 50s. a week when he enlisted in November, 1915; that he has since had only a furlough of three days at home up to last winter when, owing to prolonged nerve-strain, he was invalided to the Warrington Mental War Hospital, and thence after a short interval discharged to Long Grove County Asylum; that he has now received a pension of 14s. a week, of which 7s. goes to the asylum and 7s. to the support of his wife and children; and will he say whether such a case comes under the category of total disability entitling the ex-soldier to a pension of 27s., with sufficient allowances to his dependants to maintain them in comfort?

The VICE-CHAMBERLAIN of the HOUSEHOLD (Mr. Beck)

Very great doubt existed as to whether Peters' disability had any connection with his military service, and long inquiries were necessary, during which a temporary allowance of 14s. a week was paid to him. Peters has now been awarded from the date of the new Royal Warrant a total disability pension of 27s. 6d. per week, and 15s. a week for his Four children.

92. Mr. RICHARD LAMBERT

asked the Pensions Miniter whether his attention has been called to the case of W. Jacobs, of 66, Bright Street, Gorse Hill, Swindon, who, after serving for eighteen years in the Grenadier Guards, was discharged in 1882 with a pension of 11½d. a day; whether he is aware that Jacobs, who is now sixty-seven years old, and unable through sickness and infirmity to earn any wage, applied to the Chelsea Commissioners for an advance in pension to meet the increased cost of living, and was granted an extra halfpenny a day; and whether he will make a further investigation with a view to the granting of an adequate pension to this man?

Mr. FORSTER

My right lion. Friend has asked me to answer this question. I am making inquiries into this case, and will inform the hon. Member as soon as possible.