§ 23. Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Pensions whether instructions have been issued by which payment of a final weekly allowance with terminal gratuity, to a man who dies before the full amount has been paid, is stopped; why the undisbursed balance is not credited to the deceased person's estate for the benefit of the widow and orphans; and by what authority this change in administration was made?
§ Major TRYONIn this matter the Ministry have followed the longstanding practice of the Service Departments in dealing with current payment of non-effective pay. That practice is governed by Article 1207 of the Pay Warrant which is incorporated in the Royal Warrant of December, 1919.
§ Mr. ROBERTSWas this change sanctioned by the House?
§ Major TRYONThe change has been in force for two years. I do not know what discussion took place at the time; but there has been no recent change.
§ Mr. WEBBAre not the weekly allowance with the final gratuities made under these Final Awards in the nature of a lump-sum settlement, the payment being spread over a term of one to three years; and is it equitable that the representatives of a deceased man should on his death lose the balance of the final award, including in particular the final gratuity?
§ Major TRYONI see the hon. Member's point.
§ Mr. WEBBDoes he not receive a weekly allowance for a certain number of weeks and then a terminal gratuity of £10? Does the Minister think that when an allowance has been paid instead of a lump sum spread over 52 or 70 weeks, with a terminal gratuity, that it is equitable when the man dies that the widow he leaves behind should lose the balance unpaid?
§ Major TRYONI will consider the hon. Member's point, but I can make no promise that I will make a change. If the widow can be accepted as a widow under the terms of the warrant, she will be provided for.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member must put on the Paper any further question.