26. Mr. T. WILSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that under War Office Letter, 27th April, 1914, paragraph 4, instructions have been issued to civilian employé pensioners employed at Colewart Barracks, Portsmouth, and to the pensioners similarly employed under the Royal Engineers, Hillsea lines, that in future their rate of pay is to be reduced by 2s. per week; and whether he will make inquiries with a view to the withdrawal of the paragraph in question, as no man who has fought for his country and earned a pension should be placed in civilian employment at a disadvantage as compared with other workmen?
§ Mr. FORSTERI will make inquiries, and inform my hon. Friend of the result.
§ 28. Mr. ANDERSONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether it has yet been decided to render financial assistance to the widow and children of the late Bertrand Samuel Goater, S/14576, staff sergeant, Army Service Corps, who died on the 30th October, 1917; whether he is aware that this soldier served through the whole of the South African War, being invalided from the Army about two months before the, outbreak of the present War with tubercular lung, the disease being accelerated by foreign service; that, after three months' sanatorium treatment, the 1626 soldier resumed his former duties at the Army Service Corps Office at Netley, and was afterwards engaged at Romsey and Winchester as barrack warden; that his widow has received no financial assistance, though left with three children, their ages ranging from one to four years; and that one child falling ill was unable to obtain the necessary nourishment, and died in consequence; and what action it is proposed to take?
§ Mr. FORSTERThis man was a discharged soldier, employed as a civilian subordinate. His widow is not entitled to a soldier's widow's pension, and his civilian service was too short to entitle her to a gratuity under the Superannuation Act. A small Grant has been made to Mrs. Goater from the Civil Compassionate Fund.