§ 26. Sir BERTRAM FALLEasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware that Royal Naval ratings who are invalided and are retained at Haslar for treatment have their invaliding pension stopped whilst so detained, if entitled to a pension, and that their wives and children are left destitute; and whether he will amend the Regulations to permit of pay being extended until the man leaves the hospital, observing that in cases where a rating is not entitled to a pension payment for maintenance cannot be recovered?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMIt is true that a pension is not payable to a naval rating detained in hospital, but it is inaccurate to say that his dependants are left destitute, as they are entitled to certain money allowances from the funds of Greenwich Hospital. So far as pay is concerned, a naval rating invalided from the Service is granted a gratuity of 28 days' full pay and allowances, beyond the date of medical survey, with leave allowance in addition when not victualled by the Service. He can also continue his allotment to his dependants during that 1609 period, in which case marriage allowance is also continued. It is not possible to authorise the further continuance of naval pay additional to this gratuity after the man has been declared unfit for further service.