§ 17. Mr. HOGGEasked the Pensions Minister whether the suggested alterations have now taken place at Chelsea; and whether one can now expect a reply to letters within a reasonable period?
§ Mr. HODGEThe reorganisation of the Award to Soldiers Branch of the Ministry at Chelsea is progressing, under the direction of Sir Woodburn Kirby, as rapidly as can be expected, having regard to the immense and quickly increasing volume of work in the branch, which has to be carried out by a growing and inexperienced staff. The dealing with letters received at Chelsea from soldiers and their friends constitutes a large part of this work and retards rather than accelerates awards. If correspondents would make more use of the local committees, the accredited agents of the Ministry, it would give the branch at Chelsea better opportunities of discharging its primary function of awarding pensions.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the right hon. Gentleman say whether his intention to have Chelsea reorganised in Christmas week has fallen through? Can he say how soon now it will be reorganised; this is a very important matter?
§ Mr. HODGEIt was intended to have closed a week at Christmas for the purpose of adopting the new filing system. Previous to that I secured the services of Sir Woodburn Kirby, who is one of the best organisers that we have in 652 London. He has taken personal charge. We are having an addition made, so far as office accommodation is concerned. The last report I had from the gentleman in charge was that he believes that in March he will have the thing completed. At the present time everything has been very greatly expedited as the result of his care.
§ 18. Mr. HOGGEasked the Pensions Minister whether he can state the number of pensions awarded up to 31st December, 1917, or other date, giving figures for life, temporary, widows, and dependants, respectively?
§ Mr. HOGGEWill the right hon. Gentleman not rather circulate his information in the OFFICIAL REPORT, so that everyone can see it?
§ Mr. HODGEIn the course of a few weeks it will be necessary, under the Act of Parliament, that a complete Report should be made. Then, of course, full information will be given, not only as to the number of pensioners, but the amount of money spent by the Department; and I hope it will also contain a statement showing the system of treatment and training, and a variety of other matters which come under the control of the Department.
§ Mr. HOGGEIf the right hon. Gentleman is going to communicate with me, cannot he, at the same time, communicate with the rest of us by publishing the Reports?
§ Mr. HODGEThe only object I had in saying what I did was to consult with the hon. Member as to what form this information should take.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERWill the right hon. Gentleman not put other Members of the House who are interested in the pensions question—as the hon. Member for East Edinburgh has suggested—in possession of the facts and consult them also?
§ 20. Mr. HOGGEasked the Pensions Minister whether he can see his way to give widows with pensions the same privileges as are accorded by the local war pensions committees to the wives of serving soldiers?
§ Mr. HODGEI am in some doubt as to what "privileges" the hon. Member has 653 in mind, but any inequality of treatment which now exists will, I think, be largely remedied by the amended Regulations of the Special Grants Committee, which will shortly be issued. Under 13 (a) of Part II. of the amended Regulations the sickness grant will be payable to a widow as well as to the wife of a serving soldier; and with regard to rent allowance, the new Regulation 1 (of Part I.) will, it is hoped, be found sufficiently liberal to meet the widow's needs. Under this Regulation, as amended, the supplementary allowance will be payable where, owing to exceptional circumstances, the pension seems to be inadequate, without the pensioner being under the necessity of pleading "serious hardship," and a further allowance of not exceeding 2s. 6d. a week may be granted in respect of each child previously supported by the deceased soldier.
§ Mr. HOGGEI am very glad to hear that. Is, however, my right hon. Friend aware that when a widow has exhausted the twenty-six weeks' separation allowance she is no longer entitled to get the same grant as the wife of the serving soldier, either for herself or her children; and can he see his way to make these grants accessible to the widow and children who receives less in pension than the wife who receives more in separation allowance?
§ Mr. HODGEI understand that the alterations in the Regulations are designed for the purpose the hon. Member has in view.
§ 47. Mr. HOGGEasked the Prime Minister why separation allowance is now to be paid to the children of officers up to the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, respectively, for male and female children, instead of fourteen, as in the case of the children of private soldiers, or whether it is proposed to extend the allowance in the latter case?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. H. W. Forster)My right hon. Friend has asked me to answer this question. The decision of the War Cabinet follows the lines already adopted for allowances to children of deceased officers. The separation allowances of soldiers' children do not terminate at age fourteen, as stated, but at age sixteen in the normal case, and these allowances also ere extended to the age of twenty-one in eases of apprenticeship, continued higher education, or invalidity.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs not my right hon. Friend confusing the allowance for diseased children and for live children? Is he aware that in the case of children of private soldiers the allowance ceases at the age of fourteen, and is only increased to sixteen and seventeen in very special cases and never extends to twenty-one even in the case of mentally afflicted children?
§ Mr. FORSTERI think my hon. Friend is entirely wrong. I know it is very unusual in his case, but if he will refer to a very excellent pamphlet or guide-book by the hon. Member for East Edinburgh (Mr. Hogg:), he will be able to refresh his memory.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs not my right hon. Friend aware that it is because I did refer to the guide-book, which he says is excellent, that I am putting this accurate information to him?
§ Mr. FORSTERPerhaps my hon. Friend would ask the hon. Member for East Edinburgh to revise his publication.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWhat reason is there for allowing any difference between the ages of children of private soldiers and the ages of children of officers at which you Fay separation allowance? Is it not equally desirable that you should encourage the education and care of the children of private soldiers as of the children of officers?
§ Mr. FORSTERYes, Sir; and, as I have said, the separation allowance of private soldiers does not terminate at the age of fourteen but at the age of sixteen in normal cases, and is extended in cases of apprenticeship, continued higher education, or invalidity, to the age of twenty-one.
§ Mr. WHITEHOUSEWill the right hon. Gentleman then kindly state what is the difference made in the case of children of private soldiers and in the case of children of officers?
§ Mr. HOGGEWhy should the wife of a serving soldier have to make application for a separation allowance beyond the age of fourteen in the interests of education or apprenticeship when it is not necessary in the case of an officer?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat raises another question.