§ 11. Sir B. FALLEasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why naval lunatic ratings, whose insanity is attributable to service, have their pensions withheld and appropriated to the cost of their maintenance; and whether he will consider a revision of the Regulations, authorising payment of pensions in those cases to their wives or dependants?
§ Mr. AMMONUnder Section 335 of the Lunacy Act (53 Vict. c. 5) the cost of maintenance is a first charge against a lunatic's pension and the King's Regulations do not permit the concurrent payment of pension and the provision of free maintenance of the pensioner. I am afraid that I cannot consider revision of these Regulations in the sense suggested, but I would point out that, under present conditions, by reason of the higher rate of an "attributable" pension the wives or dependants of men whose disabilities are due to the service receive higher money allowances from Greenwich Hospital funds.