§ 2. Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the desirability of making provision for the issue of modified pensions to the widows of men who die as the result of their invalidating disability in cases where the marriage took place after the man's discharge?
§ Major TRYONThe liability of the State in respect of death resulting from war service has always been defined by the Royal Pension Warrants as limited to the man's family obligations as existing at the date of the contraction on service of the fatal disability. I could not therefore agree to the hon. and gallant Member's proposal.
§ Colonel DAYAs this is rather exceptional and these widows experience very great hardship, could not the Minister see some way to meet them in the matter?
§ Major TRYONI am not prepared to recommend an alteration of the rules which have been invariable under successive Parliaments and under all Governments.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONHas the right hon. Gentleman not at his disposal a voluntary fund out of which grants may be made in cases of exceptional hardship?
§ Major TRYONThere are certain voluntary funds, but they are, of course, governed by the rules applying to the trust on which they are based.
Mr. BECKETTIn view of the hardship to a man who has served in the Army and been disabled, and is condemned to perpetual celibacy, could not the right hon. Gentleman reconsider the decision of past Governments?
§ Major TRYONI am not prepared to recommend any alteration of a policy which has been accepted as correct by successive Governments.
§ 5. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mrs. F. Edwards, widow of the late Corporal Walter Edwards, No. 72,162, Labour 771 Corps, has been granted a pension from 1st August, 1924, although her husband died on 6th April, 1924, and that the reason given is that no application was made until 1st August, 1924; whether he is aware that the delay was due entirely to the applicant's ignorance of her rights; and whether, in view of the fact that the applicant had to maintain herself and her two children during the period April to August, he will take steps to secure that her pension will date back to 6th April, 1924?
§ Major TRYONPension in this case was paid in accordance with the long established practice of the Ministry (which applies to claims both in respect of death and of disablement) as from the date when the claim was made. With regard to the second part of the question, I would remind the hon. Member that the fullest publicity is given by the Ministry to the machinery available for making of claims of all kinds upon the Department.