§ 55. Mr. THURTLEasked the Minister of Pensions if any regulation exists which prevents the payment of pensions or allowances to the dependants of soldiers who were executed for military offences during the War?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. F. O. Roberts)It is an over-riding provision of the Royal Pension Warrants that pensions to widows or dependants of soldiers shall not be granted if the soldier's death was due to his own serious negligence or misconduct. In the special circumstances of the Great War the few cases of the kind referred to by the hon. Member were, however, dealt with exceptionally, and pensions at the normal rate were granted to the dependants of the men under special sanction.
§ Mr. THURTLEIf I am able to bring to the hon. Member's notice a few cases of very great hardship, will he deal with them? Has he the power to deal with such cases?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThey shall certainly be considered.