§ 14. Mr. DALTONasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will reconsider the refusal of his Department to pay any compensation to Mrs. Ethel A. Duggan, of 53, Clifton Crescent, Asylum Road, Peckham, S.E.15, mother of the late Alfred F. H. Duggan, leading seaman O.N.J. 62,085, who was lost on board His Majesty's Submarine M1, having regard to the fact that Mrs. Duggan was in receipt of an allotment from her son, which has been discontinued by the Admiralty since his death, and that she was put to some expense, owing to the requirements of the Admiralty, in obtaining a copy of her son's birth certificate?
Mr. DAVIDSONAs the hon. Member has already been informed in a letter addressed to him by the First Lord on the 27th February, Mrs. Duggan is ineligible for an award from Naval Funds in respect of the death of her late son as the inquiries which have been made show that she is not in pecuniary need and that she was not largely dependent on the deceased at the time of his death. I regret that that decision cannot be varied. As regards the allotment, which was one of 2s. a week, payment ceased with stoppage of the late seaman's pay. The temporary continuance of qualifying allotments is allowable only in those cases where the allottee is in receipt of marriage allowance at the time of the allottor's Heath. I may add that authority has already been issued for payment of the naval assets to the father 2266 and there is nothing further due in respect of pay.
§ Mr. DALTONIf the Admiralty should still be maintaining their refusal, may we take it that some steps will be taken to alter the Regulations under which these hardships arise for future cases?