1. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Pensions Minister if he will state the conditions governing the issue of widows' gratuities under the Royal Warrant of 1918: and if he will explain why these grants have been paid in some cases and not in others, although the circumstances are similar?
§ The MINISTER OF PENSIONS (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)Gratuities 1010 are payable to widows under Articles 14, 15 and 16 of the Royal Warrant of 6th December, 1919, which re-enacts similar provisions of the Royal Warrant of 17th April, 1918. I am sending the hon. Member copies of both Warrants. The discrepancy to which he refers is presumably that which arises from the limitation of the gratuity under Article 14 to cases where the death of the husband occurred on or after 1st July, 1916. Before that date the grant was made on a discretionary basis by the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation.
§ Mr. HOUSTONWill the right hon. Gentleman distribute the promised figures?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI will certainly let my hon. Friend have a copy of the Warrant.
§ 5. Mr. T. A. LEWISasked the Pensions Minister whether he will consider the advisability of issuing emergency grants to widows of soldiers to meet exceptional circumstances, such as funeral expenses?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe provision of pension, including alternative pension, is intended to cover all emergencies to which the soldier's widow is liable in common with other classes of civilians. The funeral expenses of her husband are borne by the Ministry of Pensions if his death was due to service.