§ 33. Sir B. PETOasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Elizabeth 801 Physick, of Elm Cottage, Georgeham, Devon, who lost two sons in the War, who served, respectively, with the 2nd Devons and in the Royal Navy; whether he is aware that she is in receipt of a dependant's need pension of only 9s. 2d. a week and that she has no other means except the old age pension, is 72 years of age and almost blind, and has recently lost her husband; and whether he can say on what grounds the Ministry of Pensions refuse an increase in her dependant's need pension?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)The war pension of 9s. 2d. a week which Mrs. Physick is receiving is materially in excess of her dependence upon her two sons. A claim to an increased pension on grounds of incapacity and need has been considered but, after taking into account her old age pension of 10s. a week and the share in the responsibility for her support which must be credited to her surviving son, no increase is, under present circumstances, found to be admissible.
§ Sir B. PETOIn considering the question of the dependant's needs, does the Department consider that the amount of assistance given by a son before the War who was killed in the War, is any measure of the amount of assistance an aged and widowed mother might be expected to receive in her altered condition and the position which the son would have attained if he had not been killed in the War?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYAs I have already explained, that is taken into account and that is why she is receiving nearly twice as much as her sons contributed.