§ 1. Colonel PENRY WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Gallagher, widow of Private J. W. Gallagher, No. 12,308, East Lancashire Regiment; if he is aware that previous to her marriage with Gallagher she was the widow of a soldier named Corporal Brighty, who was killed in the War; whether she lost her pension on her remarriage, and if he will state the reason why she has been refused a pension now on account of the death of Gallagher, who was severely wounded and permanently disabled by machine-gun fire; if he can say how many children she has dependent upon her; and what provision, if any, he proposes to make for her in order that she need not apply for poor law relief?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The late Private Gallagher was discharged on 18th January, 1918, as a result of a gun-shot wound of the abdomen received on 24th April, 1917. He married on the 22nd September, 1917, and died from nephritis and general 2344 dropsy on the 14th August, 1919. Private Gallagher had been in receipt of a pension for the gun-shot wound, but when last examined on the 27th November, 1918, the medical board found the scar to be superficial and non-adherent, and assessed disablement at nil. As regards his fatal illness, the medical advisers of the Ministry have decided, after careful consideration of all the circumstances, that the disease must be regarded as having arisen after discharge, and to be in no way connected with his military service. This Department has, therefore, no authority to award a pension. Mrs. Gallagher has, however, appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against this decision, and in view of her circumstances my right hon. Friend is asking the tribunal to give early consideration to the case. Mrs. Gallagher has, I understand, one child dependent on her.
§ Colonel WILLIAMSIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that this woman is the widow of a soldier who is lying in a soldier's grave in France, and that she is now dependent upon charity for her support? Can he tell me something about that?
§ Major TRYONThe position is this: The decision of the House of Commons took the question of attributability entirely out of the hands of the Ministry and set up a separate tribunal, over which the Ministry have no power whatever, to deal with these cases. This case is now being decided by a tribunal set up by the full authority of the House of Commons, and is taken by the authority of the House of Commons, away from the Ministry. Under the circumstances, I do not think I can make any further comment.
§ Colonel WILLIAMSI beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply which I have received, and also to the urgency of the case of this woman, I will raise this question on the motion for adjournment to-night.