§ Mr. BROTHERTONasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether Ernest Taylor, who was discharged from the prison service as the result of injuries received in the execution of his duty at Wandsworth prison in May, 1904, will receive a pension or gratuity?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANAs I explained in reply to the hon. Member for the Harrow Division (Mr. Mosley) on the 18th of this month, Mr. Taylor's condition, which rendered him unfit for further prison service, was found not to be attributable to injury sustained in the execution of his duty. As a temporary employé he was not eligible far any payment under the Superannuation Acts, and there is no power to make any grant to him from public funds.
§ of a murderous attack by a number of convicts under his charge; that from the day he was attacked he has never done any real work, and has been an epileptic subject since then; and that his circumstances are such that an ex gratia pension would be an act of consideration?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANSo far as ex gratia pensions are concerned, I am afraid there is no power to give them. As to the history of this matter, it has been gone into over and over again by my predecessor, and there has been a medical report upon it. I am very sorry indeed for this man, but I am afraid it would be impossible to reopen the case.