§ 12. Major-General Sir ROBERT HUTCHISONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Charles Ambrose Fairhead, late private, Labour Corps, No. 119,640, is in receipt of a pension of 8d. a day only, after having rendered upwards of 14 years' combined colour and reserve service, including fighting throughout the South African War and for two years in France; whether he is aware that this ex-service man re-enlisted shortly after the outbreak of the Great War and continued serving until finally discharged as no longer physically fit for war service; and whether, in view of the hardships involved in this and similar cases, he will consider an amendment of the pay warrant so as to give the benefit of pension assessment at the usual rate of 1½d. per day per year of qualifying service, with rank allowances and the usual age increases of 5d. at 55 and 4d. at 65, to all veterans who served for not less than 14 years and who have been disabled by their Great War service, in lieu of their present pensions, based on the 1914 pay warrant?
§ Major Sir WILLIAM COPE (Controller of the Household)In the absence of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions, who has been requested to answer this question, I have been asked to reply. The pension scheme which no doubt the hon. and gallant Member has in mind in the last part of his question was intended solely for the benefit of soldiers with 14 years' service and over who served with the intention of completing time for long-service pension, but were prevented from doing so through being invalided during the Great War. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions is not prepared to recommend the extension of the scheme to soldiers who would not in any event have completed time for service pension.
§ 13. Sir R. HUTCHISONasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the grant of a service pension under the 1914 warrant, with arrears, to Thomas Scott, late acting-colour-sergeant, No. 6,033, Suffolk Regiment, in view of the fact that he served continuously with the colours and reserve from 3rd March, 1902, to 28th September, 1919, that he held substantive rank as non-commissioned officer for not less than three years immediately preceding final discharge and 1367 was notified by the Ministry of Pensions on 7th June, 1927, that he would draw as from 21st May, 1929, a disablement pension at the 40 per cent. rate until further instructions and without terminal date?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am having inquiries made into this case, and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member in due course.