§ 17 and 18. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Pensions Minister (1) whether the Government have any intention of paying a war bonus on officers' pensions on the same lines as on the men's pensions; (2)whether he is now able to announce a decision with regard to war bonus on officers' pensions and alternative pensions?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIf the House will permit me, I will take this opportunity of announcing the decision of the Government with regard generally to war bonus on pensions.
The present bonus of 20 per cent. payable to disabled men and the widows and children of deceased men, which was awarded until the end of June next, will 580 be extended until the last pay-day in September next. This extension applies to all pensions and allowances in respect of which the war bonus was granted by the Cabinet decision of December last.
As the House is aware, the question of granting a similar bonus in respect of officers' pensions and alternative pensions for both officers and men and their widows has been for some time under consideration, and I am glad to say that a decision has now been reached.
For the period from 1st January last to the end of September next, a bonus of 20 per cent. will be added to the disability retired pay of officers, and the disability pensions of nurses and Naval Warrant officers, and to the pensions and children's allowances of widows and relatives of officers granted for service in this War. In the case of Regular officers and certain other cases, the retired pay awarded is a composite sum covering service and disablement. In these cases the bonus will be confined to the latter element—that is, it will be payable only in respect of the amount of disability retired pay which would have been awarded to a temporary officer of the same rank and having the same degree of disablement.
The bonus will be added also, for the same period, to the alternative retired pay of officers, the alternative pensions of men, and the alternative pensions of the widows of all ranks.
In the case of officers and their widows or relatives there are, however, money limits which the pension and bonus combined must not exceed. These limits are at the following rates:
| Officers | £300 a year |
| Nurses | 175 a year |
| Naval Warrant Officers | 175 a year |
| Officers' Widows (exclusive of children) | 200 a year |
| Naval Warrant Officers' Widows (exclusive of children) | 100 a year |
| Officers' Parents or Sisters | 100 a year |
| Naval Warrant Officers' Parents or Sisters | 75 a year |
§ Within these limits officers of all ranks are eligible for the bonus.
§ I wish to emphasise that it is not necessary for officers or men or their dependants to make any application for the bonus, which will be paid, with arrears, as 581 expeditiously as possible, but I ought to warn hon. Members that the bonuses will add considerably to the labours of an already overworked staff, and some delay will be inevitable.
§ Sir M. BARLOWIs it only the alternative pension exception that is now being included, and will the other two cases which were excepted from the bonus—I think it was the case of people in institutions and separated widows—be included or not?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe hon. Gentleman must put down a question. I have made a complete statement. If, when he has read it, he thinks there is something omitted and puts down a question, I will answer it.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs there any limit in money to the alternative pension of a man in the ranks or his widow?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThere is no money limit to prevent the bonus arising. There are limits to the alternative pensions generally.