§ 29. Sir ERNEST LAMBasked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether, whereas a non-commissioned officer with fifteen years' service in the ranks at the time of being commissioned is allowed to 2076 count all such service in the ranks and to retire at the termination of hostilities on the scale as laid down for officers after fifteen years' service, nevertheless a noncommissioned officer with less than fifteen years' service in the ranks at the time of being commissioned is allowed to count only half of such previous service towards pension; and, if so, whether, seeing that many of these officers will materially suffer through being compelled to retire with a gratuity instead of the pension which they might reasonably have expected to secure had they not aceepted commissions, he will reconsider' their position?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe hon. Member has not read the Regulations aright. An officer who had fifteen years' service or more in the ranks does not count that service in full for pension, but may, on retiring at the end of the War, choose between a gratuity of £1,000 or the minimum officer's service pension of £80 in respect of the whole of his service in the ranks and as an officer, which may well amount to as much as twenty-five years. He is not obliged to retire at the end of the War, whether he had fifteen years' rank service or less, and if he elects to serve on his service in the ranks counts under the ordinary rules. Officers with less than fifteen years' rank service may, if they so choose, retire at the end of the War with substantial gratuities from £900 downwards, according to length of service.
§ 43. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why the dependancy allowance in the case of Private Fish, No. 26739, East Lancashire Regiment, has been reduced from 12s. 6d. to 9s. 5d. on the death of the soldier's father and the transfer of the allotment to the mother; and whether the sum will be restored to the former amount?
§ Mr. FORSTERWhen a dependant in receipt of separation allowance dies, an allowance may be granted to another member of the household, but the share of the deceased payee naturally lapses. I regret that in the case to which the hon. Member calls attention the paymaster reassessed the claim incorrectly. The correct rate of allowance under the Regulations is 11s. 1d. a week and payment will be adjusted accordingly.
§ 82. Mr. HOGGEasked the Pensions Minister whether the pension to widows and children is to be increased?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen)I cannot, I regret, yet make the statement which the hon. Member desires.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. and gallant Friend say definitely when either the Ministry or the Treasury is going to pay a pension to the widows and dependants of soldiers and prevent them from starving, as they are doing at the rate at which they are being paid now?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have told the hon. Member that I am not in a position to make a definite statement. The matter is under consideration, and I hope to be able to do so shortly.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs not the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that the matter has been under consideration now for nearly six months, and when is the Ministry of Pensions going to get a move on?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENMy hon. Friend is not correct. The proposals of the Ministry of Pensions were sent to the Treasury, I think, only about a month ago.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs my hon. and gallant Friend aware that I put a question on this subject over a month ago, and I got the same answer as I have received to-day?
83. Colonel Sir F. HALLasked the Pensions Minister whether Mrs. Annie Downes, widow of Sergeant W. J. Downes, No. 2034, late 16th Middlesex Regiment, who was killed on the Somme on 1st July, 1916, has not yet received the allowance of £5 granted to dependants of men killed in action; whether he is aware that Mrs. Downes has made several applications to the Pension Office, has been informed that there were hundreds of cases to be dealt with before hers, and that she would receive notice in due course; that on making a subsequent appeal shortly before Christmas she was informed that the matter would be looked into and she would be written to; that, notwithstanding this, she has received no communication whatever; and will he have this matter looked into at once in order that the allowance may be paid without further delay?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe allowance of £5 in cases similar to that of 2078 Mrs. Downes was conceded in July, 1917, with retrospective effect, with the result that many thousands of cases required investigation at the same time. There was in Mrs. Downe's case the added difficulty that her husband was originally reported "missing." The matter has, however, now been settled, and authority to pay the gratuity was issued a few days ago.
§ 85. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Pensions Minister if he will consider extending the period of three months allowed for appeal in regard to pensions of men discharged for medical unfitness to twelve months in cases where men can prove sickness or other good reasons for not having appealed within the ordinary period?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe period of three months to which the hon. Member refers is not the period within which an appeal must be made to be effective, but the period within which it must be made to carry arrears as from the date of discharge. I am, however, open to consider representations in any particular case where it appears that the application of the rule would cause injustice.
§ Mr. HOGGEWill my hon. and gallant Friend tell the House whether the Ministry of Pensions have any authority at all to limit the period of the payment?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENWe have undoubted authority in the Warrant.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIf my lion. Friend wants the exact Clause, he must give me notice.
§ 86. Colonel HERBERTasked the Pensions Minister whether Private W. Newberry, late No 1753, Royal West Kent Regiment, was notified on the 17th November, 1917, by the Ministry of Pensions that a temporary pension of 30d. a day had been granted to him from the 24th August, 1917, until the 27th August, 1919, his permanent pension of 24d. a day being in abeyance from the 24th August, 1917; and whether he will explain why Private Newberry has received no pension. since the 1st October, 1917?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI am having some difficulty in ascertaining the 2079 facts in this case. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as I have put it right.