§ 5. Mr. CAIRNSasked the Minister of Pensions whether claims for pensions by parents in respect of sons lost during the War under Article 21 (1) (a) and 21 (1) (c) of the Royal Warrant are now considered; whether, in the review of pre-War dependence pensions now being made, the dependence pension will be reduced from the amount of dependence at the time of enlistment to the amount of dependence prior to August, 1914; and, if so, what saving of public money is it anticipated will follow the review of dependence pensions?
§ Major TRYONNew awards of pension to parents are, in accordance with the de- 1269 cision of the late Government, not now made under Article 21 (1) (a) or (1) (c) of the Royal Warrant. The answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. The term "pre-War dependence" covers, in accordance with the provisions of the Royal Warrant, pre-enlistment dependence in the case of late enlistments, exclusive, however, of any increase of such dependence owing to circumstances arising out of the War.
§ Mr. CAIRNSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there are thousands of fathers and mothers who have no income owing to the death of their sons in the War?
§ Major TRYONIt is quite true that those who are well off do not now get a pension on account of the loss of a son. It is limited to cases of need.
§ Mr. CAIRNSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that they are people of the working class, but cannot work for their livelihood because of old age or infirmity?
§ Mr. LAWSONWould the right hon. Gentleman say what he means by "well off "? Is he aware that I could give a case in which three brothers were lost in one family, and the mother, who was dependent upon them, is getting no pension, it having been consistently refused?
§ Major TRYONIf the hon. Member will give me the case, I shall be happy to go into it.
§ Mr. CAIRNSMay I have an answer to my second supplementary question?
§ Major TRYONIf the hon. Member can give me a case in which a dependant who has lost a son is getting no income at all. I will gladly inquire into it, as it would obviously come under the heading of need.
§ Mr. CAIRNSI have already given cases.
§ 7. and 9. Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Pensions (1) what was the amount disbursed by the Special Grants Committee to widows, children, and dependants under Regulation 2 of Regulations, Part I, of that Committee during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1922;
1270 (2), whether, seeing that Regulations, Part I, Regulation 4, of the Special Grants Committee, provides for an allowance not exceeding 20s. a week to a widow or parent, and children's allowances at 9s. 2d. for a first child, 6s. 8d. for a second child, and 5s. 10d. for each after the second, where the case is one of exceptional hardship, and the Special Grants Committee are satisfied that the man's death was due to circumstances arising from his war service, he will state what was the amount disbursed under this regulation in the 12 months ending 31st December, 1922; and is it proposed to make any alteration in the regulation?
§ Major TRYONThe approximate expenditure under Regulation 2 of Part I of the Special Grants Committee's regulations during the year ended 31st December, 1922, was £5,800; and under Regulation 4, £27,000. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of an explanatory circular which has been issued regarding a change in the use of these regulations.
§ 20. Mr. MIDDLETONasked the Minister of Pensions, whether he is aware that cases have arisen in which it has been held, as an interpretation of Article 11 of the Royal Warrant, that the Ministry is liable for the payment of compensation after death, though not previously liable for payment of pension in the, same case; and what steps can he take to remove this anomaly?
§ Major TRYONUnder the provisions of Article 11 (c) of the Royal Warrant, a widow may be granted a pension if her husband dies within seven years of a disease on account of which he was removed from duty during his service, if the disease commenced or was contracted on service, even though it was neither attributable to nor aggravated by service. This is a special provision in favour of widows and dependants only, and the removal of the anomaly referred to by the hon. Member would involve the withdrawal of this generous provision, a step which I am not prepared to take.
§ 27. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of Mrs. E. Coates, of Hatton, mother of the late Private Walter Gordon Coates, No. 14909, Grenadier Guards, whose pension has been reduced by the bonus of 2s. 1d. a week, which was discontinued on 31st March last; whether 1271 he is aware that the only income of Mrs. Coates, in addition to the pension, is 12s. a week unemployment insurance pay in respect of her daughter; and whether he will, under the circumstances, restore the pension of 15s. a week?
§ Major TRYONWhen the last award was made the applicant's circumstances were not as stated in the question. I am having inquiries made and will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.
§ Major TRYONI am informed that the circumstances are not as stated in the question, but I am inquiring into the matter to see if there is any error.
§ Major TRYONIt comes from the area where the case arises. We are continually pressed in this House to rely more upon local effort in the local area.
§ Mr. WHITEDoes the right hon. Gentleman know that the local effort in this case is personal intervention by myself.
§ 29. Mr. ALLEN PARKINSONasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the widow of Private Joseph Green, No. 164,472, of Vauxhall Road, Wigan, who was in receipt. of a 100 per cent. pension up to the time of his death, has now been awarded the small pension of 13s. 9d. per week, with no allowance for the children, five of whom are under working age, the reason given being that his death took place more than seven years after his discharge; and whether his Department intends to adhere to the seven years' period in such cases?
§ Major TRYONIn the short time available I have not been able to complete my inquiry into this case. I will communicate with the hon. Member as soon as possible.