§ 8. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that a soldier having completed 12 years' Army service and discharged, on attaining the age of 65, is entitled to a special campaign pension of 1s. a day if without means, and that those men who are in receipt of small incomes, the result of their thrift in saving money, are denied this special campaign pension to which they would have been entitled had they saved no money; and whether he is prepared to take steps to remove this hardship on old soldiers?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)Special campaign pensions are purely compassionate awards. As such they are only given to old Regular soldiers who are in necessitous circumstances, and the amount of pension granted is fixed in relation to, and varies with, the recipients' other means. To award these pensions without reference to such means 930 would be contrary to the intention of the grant, and I am therefore unable to accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.
§ Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that some of these ex-soldiers, though possessed of small means, are very hard put to it in these times, owing to the increased cost of living, and in these cases would the right hon. Gentleman make a grant?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSIf I had special funds available, yes, but I have not. I have to make the best use of what funds are available.