§ 88. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Under-Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that a totally disabled man of the British West Indies Regiment is entitled to a maximum pension of only 17s. 6d. per week as compared with 40s. per week to which a totally disabled man in this country is entitled; and that no provision is made for the wife and children of totally disabled men of the British West Indies Regiment; and whether, in view of the high cost of living in Jamaica, he will take steps to secure an adequate pension 568 for the disabled men of this regiment and for their wives and children?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of SHIPPING (Colonel Leslie Wilson, for Lieut.-Colonel Amery)The maximum rate of pension payable from Imperial funds to a totally disabled man of the British West Indies Regiment is 14s. a week, or in special cases 17s. 6d. a week, but, with Treasury sanction, higher rates may be given if pre-War earnings exceeded those amounts Colonies which desired to grant pensions at higher rates from local funds have been authorised to do so. No representations have been received from any Colony that there are wives and children of disabled men for whom provision should be made. The Governor of Jamaica will be asked to report whether he considers that the rates of pension have become inadequate owing to the increase in the cost of living.