§ 60. Mr. ACLAND ALLENasked the Pensions Minister what pension, if any, has been awarded to the mother of the late Second-Lieutenant William Blair, 8th Seaforth Highlanders?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENA pension of £35 a year has been granted in this case.
§ 61. Mr. ALLENasked the Pensions Minister if the pension of £35 a year granted to the mother of the late Second-Lieutenant Charles Campbell, 13th Battalion King's Royal Rifles, is her sole income, and whether, seeing that she is a widow and is unable to follow any employment, he will consider the possibility of granting her a larger pension?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have looked into the case to which the hon. Member calls my attention, and agree that the circumstances justify a larger pension. The pension will be increased to £50 a year with effect from the original date of award.
§ 63. Mr. BRUNNERasked the Pensions Minister whether there is payable to Mrs. Burke, of 16, Deakins Road, Wharton, Winsford, Cheshire, wife of Lance-Corporal E. W. Burke, No. 4061, date 17th Lancers, now 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers, a pension of £6 17s. per annum; whether the Pensions Issue Office refuse to pay this pension unless proof is forthcoming that her husband is alive; whether Lance-Corporal Burke is a prisoner in Germany; and whether the Pensions Issue Office propose to deprive Mrs. Burke of the money until the end of the War?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENE. W. Burke, late of the 16th Lancers, was admitted to a service pension of 1s. 6d. a day (£6 17s. uniform quarterly payment) on 7th August, 1902. This was paid by the regimental paymaster, Canterbury. The 580 pension was paid to Mrs. Burke from 1st October, 1916, apparently up to the quarter in which Burke was taken prisoner. No further payment can be made in the absence of evidence of the pensioner's life, as required by the Appropriation Act. A life certificate, either on the form prescribed by the Treasurer or in manuscript, attested by any British commissioned officer, or by a British clergyman, would be accepted, and it is stated by the War Office that there should be no difficulty now in obtaining attestation by a British commissioned officer in Germany. Mrs. Burke has been informed of the procedure necessary.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIt is difficult for me to answer that question, because this is a War Office pension administered according to certain rules laid down by the Treasury, and we are only concerned because the pension is issued by the Pensions Issue Office. I am quite prepared to mike any representations to the authorities concerned.
§ Colonel ASHLEYMeanwhile, is this woman to get nothing?
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERIs this poor woman in the meantime to be regarded neither as a wife nor a widow, and receive neither pension non separation allowance? Can that state or things be allowed to stand?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI said that it was a hard case, and I am making representations in the proper quarter.