6. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, in the case of Regular officers of the Navy or Army who die as the result of War injuries, it is the practice of his Department to refuse to issue alternatives pension, even though the Ministry are in full possession of all particulars of the pre-War income of the deceased officers, unless the widow submits an application for the alternative pension; and whether, seeing that it is the practice of the Service Departments to issue full pensions to the widows without any application, he will consider the desirability of instituting a similar practice in the Ministry of Pensions?
§ Major TRYONThe higher rate of pension, or "alternative pension," is, by the terms of the Royal Warrant, especially made dependent on the submission of a claim and proof of pre-War earnings by the claimant who is already 581 in receipt of the flat rate pension. Apart from this consideration, it is not the case that my Department is in full possession of the pre-War incomes of deceased Regular officers.