§ 2. Mr. ARCHDALEasked the Secretary of State for War if a subaltern in the Army wounded in a former war receives a pension of only £10 and one of similar rank with a similar wound in the present War gets £100; and, if so, whether he will take steps to have the former pensions increased?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY for WAR (Sir A. Williamson)The hon. Member is under some misapprehension. A subaltern who lost a limb in previous wars was granted a pension of £70 a year for life, not £10 as stated in the question. I regret I cannot adopt his suggestion that this rate should be levelled up to the rate of £100 sanctioned for the recent War.
§ Captain LOSEBYIs it not the fact that repeated assurances have been given from the Front Bench that soldiers wounded in previous wars shall be treated in identically the same manner as soldiers wounded in this War, and that, in consequence of those assurances, Members in the House and in their private capacity have refrained from taking action which otherwise they would have taken?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI am not aware of the assurances. Perhaps my hon. Friend will inform me further.
§ Mr. PEMBERTON BILLINGIs it the policy of the War Office that officers and men wounded in previous wars shall be treated in the same way as officers and men wounded in the last War?
§ Sir A. WILLIAMSONI think my answer was a reply to that question.