§ 34. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Minister of Pensions what was the total cost of the pensions paid in the year ended 31st March, 1930, to widows and children of ex-officers and men who died of war disabilities, for which they had been drawing pensions; and what part of this cost represents pensions which began in the period in question?
§ Mr. C. EDWARDSIn the temporary absence of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions, I have been asked to reply. The total cost of pensions to widows and children of ex-officers and men for the year referred to was £16,438,755. The records in the Ministry do not enable my right hon. Friend to say what proportion of this sum was paid in cases where the deceased ex-officer or man died while in receipt of pension. New awards of pension to widows and children were made during the same year of a total annual value of £121,327. The proportion of this fresh expenditure which was actually defrayed during the year cannot be stated exactly, but it may be taken as approximately two-thirds.