§ 68. Captain REDMONDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that, owing to the increased cost of living, large numbers of Irish soldiers who served in the Indian Mutiny have been reduced to a condition of acute distress; and whether he will consider the advisability of granting some increase of pensions to the Indian Mutiny veterans?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Mr. Churchill)I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the reply given on the 13th February to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Poplar South, and to the reply given on 20th February, by my hon. Friend the Secretary to the Treasury, to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Southport, to the effect that His Majesty's Government cannot undertake to increase these pensions.
§ Captain REDMONDIs it not the fact that the purchasing capacity of the amount of pension allotted to these soldiers at the time has considerably decreased, and would it not be proper and fair that the amount should be brought up to meet modern requirements?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI should be glad if the hon. and gallant Member would give me particulars of any of these cases he has in mind. The number cannot be very large as those in this class must be over the age of 83. If he does so I will look into the matter, but I can hold out no promise of an increased pension.
§ Captain REDMONDIn view of the fact stated by the right hon. Gentleman that the number cannot be very large, surely it is not a very large consideration for the Government to take into account.