HC Deb 19 November 1917 vol 99 cc979-80

(1) Every scheme regulating the constitution of a local or district committee under Section 2 of the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, 1915, shall provide for the inclusion among the members of the local or district committee of at least two disabled men who have been discharged from the naval or military service of His Majesty during the present War.

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Hodge)

I beg to move, at the end of Sub-section (1), to add the words, "and of a woman who is in receipt of a pension as the widow or other dependant of a man in the said naval or military service who has died from causes arising out of his service during the present War."

When this Bill was in Committee there was an Amendment down for the purpose of including a woman who is the widow of a soldier on the local committees. That Amendment was not so well drawn as to meet the wishes of the Committee, and as there was a general expression of opinion in favour of the principle embodied in the Amendment I promised to consider the matter and put another Amendment on the Paper. I have endeavoured to meet the desires of the House, and, from what I have been able to glean, those who were in favour of the principle think that this Amendment meets their desires.

Mr. PRICE

I wish to thank the right hon. Gentleman for meeting us on this Amendment. I am sure it will give very great satisfaction to those concerned.

Mr. TYSON WILSON

I wish to endorse what the last speaker has said. The Amendment will be fully appreciated by the widows of men who have died of illnesses caused by service in the Army. I thank my right hon. Friend for putting it down.

Amendment agreed to.

Title—"A Bill to provide for the inclusion on committees constituted under the Naval and Military War Pensions, etc., Act, 1915, of representatives of disabled men discharged from the Naval and Military Services of His Majesty."

Amendments made: Leave out the words "representatives of."

At the end, insert the words "and of women in receipt of pensions."—[Mr. Hodge.]

Motion made, and Question, "That the Bill be now read the third time," put, and agreed to.

Bill read the third time, and passed.

The remaining Orders were read, and postponed.

Whereupon Mr. SPEAKER, pursuant to the Order of the House of the 12th February, proposed the Question, "That this House do now adjourn."

Question put, and agreed to.

Adjourned accordingly at Twenty-eight minutes before Eleven o'clock.