§ 3. Colonel YATEasked the Pensions Minister what decision has been arrived at on the question of the payment of gratuities to the widows of officers who have died of disease?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Sir Laming Worthington Evans)I have con- 1436 sidered this, matter most carefully, and I do not propose to make any alteration in the present practice.
§ 4. Colonel YATEasked the Pensions Minister for what reason in the grant of an alternative pension to the widow of a deceased officer the widow with children is penalised in comparison with the widow without children; and whether, in the event of the subsequent death of a widow with children who had availed herself of an alternative pension, the children would be deprived of their own separate pensions?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe purpose of the alternative pension is, within limits, to place the deceased officer's family in the position they were in before the War, having regard to his earnings at that time. If the widow who has elected to receive an alternative pension should die, the children would thereafter receive the ordinary pensions provided by the Warrant.