HC Deb 05 March 1918 vol 103 cc1818-20
14. Major DAVID DAVIES

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether an officer who has been removed from his regiment and has been transferred to the command of a service battalion is still entitled to the pension and emoluments on retirement which would have been due to him if he had remained in command of a unit of his own regiment?

Mr. MACPHERSON

Time in command of a service battalion with substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel counts as service towards a lieutenant-colonel's retired pay in the same way as time in command of a battalion of the old Regular Army.

27. Colonel YATE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, in view of the declaration required in Army (Widows' Pensions) Form No. 1037, to the effect that the widow's private income has not been increased, including personal earnings and voluntary allowances from relatives and friends, it is the intention of the Ministry of Pensions to prohibit any widow in receipt of a pension from performing any duty for which payment is made or from receiving any gift from relatives or friends, and to reduce or stop the pension in the case of the widow doing so; and, if not, will he have this declaration cancelled?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The form referred to provides for a declaration of means, which is only intended for use by widows whose pensions are contingent on the amount of their private income. This declaration is not required from widows whose pensions are issued by the Ministry of Pensions, as such pensions are not contingent on private income, and the portion of the form providing for such, a declaration should be crossed out before it is sent to a widow drawing a pension from that Department. Every endeavour is made to see that this is done, but possibly my hon. and gallant Friend's attention has been called to a case in which this has been omitted by oversight. I understand that a fresh form omitting the means declaration altogether is in course of preparation for use in cases dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions.

41. Mr. BYRNE

asked the Pensions Minister when the present scale of pensions to soldiers' and sailors' dependants will be increased?

44. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Pensions Minister whether the pensions at present payable to widows and children are to be increased, and, if so, to what extent?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

I am not yet able to make any announcement on this matter, which is still under consideration.

64. Mr. HOGGE

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can now say if the pension payable to war pensioners prior to the present War is to be brought in to line with the amounts in the existing warrants?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The proposed Warrant dealing with these pensions is not yet finally settled. As I have already stated, the terms when settled will be announced at the earliest possible moment.

65. Major LANE-FOX

asked whether any decision has yet been arrived at as to the application of Mrs. Florrie Dixon, whose husband, Corporal F. Dixon, of the Miners' Battalion, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, died as a result of injuries received in an accident while on military duty in November, 1914, for a pension; and, if not, whether, in view of the delay that has occurred, a decision can be come to and announced forthwith?

Sir A GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

I am glad to be able to inform the hon. and gallant Member that payment of a full widow's pension to Mrs. Dixon has now been authorised.

66. Colonel HERBERT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions whether he has yet been able to ascertain 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 can now explain why Private Newberry has received no pension since the 1st October, 1917?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

This is a "pre-war" disability pension, which has been temporarily increased on a re-examination by a medical board. Owing to a misunderstanding by the regimental paymaster there was a break in payment at the beginning of this year, but I am informed that the penson of 24d. a day was regularly paid up to the 31st December last. A sum of £14 12s. 11d. has now beer; paid to Private Newberry tins being made up of the extra 6d. a day due to him from 24th August, 1917, up to 31st December, and 30d. a day from the latter date to the end of the present month.