§ 13. Mr. GROVESasked the President of the Board of Trade Whether he will cause inquiries to be made into the reasons why his Department persist in refusing a pension to the widow of the late Charles Frederick Donovan, R.S.2, No. 355,364, on the ground that he did not serve on War duty, notwithstanding the fact that Donovan received the King's special message of thanks for serving during the War in the mercantile marine and was awarded the British War medal with clasp and the mercantile marine medal with clasp, with precise printed information from the Board of Trade that they were awarded in respect of services 295 in the mercantile marine during hostilities; and whether he will grant this widow the right of representation to establish her claim for pension?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI am afraid there is some misunderstanding, as the only communication the Board of Trade have received in this case is the hon. Member's own letter of 8th May, to which a reply was sent to the effect that, on the information at present available, it is very doubtful whether a pension can be paid. If the hon. Member will be good enough to communicate with me, I will be happy to go into the matter with him.