§ 10. Mr. PETOasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he can now state that the pensions to dependants of officers of the mercantile marine who have lost their lives by enemy action at any time during the War while in the service and pay of the Admiralty and the disablement grants and allowances of such officers who have been wounded or injured will be placed upon the Service scale?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAs stated in the answers given to my hon. Friend on the 24th and 29th April last, it has been decided that the Service scales of pension are to be applied to officers and men (and their dependants) of the mercantile marine who have signed on, or may sign on, in the service and pay of the Admiralty for the period of the War in vessels to which the provisions of Section 90 of the Naval Discipline Act have been applied.
It had been hoped that the duties of the Admiralty in this matter would have been, transferred to the Ministry of Pensions by now, but it is understood that difficulties have arisen as regards the powers to be obtained by the Ministry in order to legalise the new procedure. In the meantime, awards of pensions and disability allowances are being made by the 1030 Admiralty under the old scale. These awards will be revised as soon as possible with effect from the date already arranged.
§ Mr. PETOWill the date already arranged in every case be a date not later than the date when the injury was received or the death occurred?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAYes; if the person concerned has signed on for the period of the War the date is the date back to which the actual payment will be made by the proper authorities.
§ 30. Major Sir HENRY HAVELOCK-ALLANasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that Private Davis John, No. 410168, Royal Army Medical Corps, Territorial Force, who was admitted to hospital in April suffering from chronic rheumatism, has received no pay since that date; that his wife and three children are in need and that an insurance premium which has been kept up for fifteen years is in danger of lapsing; and if he will say whether he proposes to take any action in this case?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)The approximate balance of pay due to the soldier at the end of June was remitted to his wife on the 11th instant.
§ 44. Sir J. D. REESasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether he is aware that Mr. W. H. Slack, a Woolwich examiner, who sustained compound comminuted fracture of both bones of the right leg at Chilwell factory in August, 1917, and has been under treatment till 20th June, 1918, when he was discharged from hospital on the ground that nothing more could be done for him, has not received full compensation due by the payments made up to 9th May, since which he has received nothing from Woolwich; and will he hasten a settlement, as Mr. Slack, who is a married man with a family, has been unable to undertake any work since the occurrence of the accident?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of MUNITIONS (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)From the date of the accident Mr. Slack received compensation at the rate of £2 1s. 1½d. per week under a scheme by which he is entitled to half his average earnings for a period of six months. This period expired on the 15th February, from which date he has now been paid compensation at the rate of £1 5s. per week. On the 9th May Mr. 1031 Slack had not received the full amount due up to that date, but this has since been rectified.
§ 56. Mr. ROWLANDSasked the Prime Minister whether the Government have yet decided on their scheme for increased allowances to soldiers' wives and children?
§ The following question stood upon the Notice Paper in the name of Mr. SNOWDEN:
§ 51. To ask the Prime Minister when the Report of the Cabinet Committee which has been inquiring in the question of separation allowances may be expected; and whether an opportunity will be given before the Adjournment to discuss the Government proposals?
§ Mr. BONAR LAW(answering both questions): I hope the decision of the Government will be announced next week. Hon. Members will have an opportunity of discussion on the Vote of Credit to be moved before the Recess.
§ 76. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will arrange for a copy of the revised pamphlet, "Soldiers' Pensions," to be distributed with each ring-paper for the information of dependants?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Hodge)I am anxious that the revised pamphlet on "Soldiers' Pensions" should have as wide a circulation as possible among dependants, and I am inquiring whether this can best be obtained by the method of distribution suggested by the hon. Member.
§ 77. Mr. NEEDHAMasked the Minister of Pensions, when endeavouring to meet by supplementary allowances the case of wives of serving soldiers who enlisted early in the War on the ground that wages then are not comparable with those now paid, whether he will also deal with the cases of dependants of unmarried soldiers on similar lines?
§ 78. Mr. SMALLWOODasked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been called to the case of John Franklin, who was discharged from the Mercantile Marine Reserve in March last as medically unfit; is he aware that this man has not been able yet to obtain any relief or pension 1032 pending settlement as to the particular Government Department that shall deal with similar cases; is he further aware that this man is unable to work and that, after having pawned all available articles to provide food for his wife and three children, he is now destitute; and will he give some immediate attention in order that this man may be able to provide necessities for his family until such time as the authorities have settled what Department is to undertake his and similar cases?
§ Mr. HODGEAs the hon. Member is no doubt aware, certain classes of the Mercantile Marine Reserve are about to be given, in place of the compensation to which they are at present entitled, the same privileges in respect of gratuities, pensions, and allowances as men of the Royal Navy. The actual transfer of these classes of men to the books of my Department involves questions of considerable complexity, but it is not the fact, as my hon. friend appears to suggest, that in the meantime the men are being deprived of compensation from either Department. Arrangements have been made whereby the Admiralty continue to compensate on the existing basis subject to revision when the transfer is complete. In the case of John Franklin, the disability for which the man was discharged was found to be neither attributable to nor aggravated by service, and on the existing basis there is no claim for compensation. I am taking advice as to whether, pending my Department taking over these classes of the Mercantile Marine Reserve, cases like that of John Franklin, in which the disability is not connected with service to the State, can be considered for the award of a gratuity or temporary allowance.
§ Mr. SMALLWOODWhat are these men with starving families to do in the meantime?
§ Mr. SMALLWOODNo, I am not.