§ 39. Mr. T. SMITHasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been drawn to the case of John Edward Knott, who served under the Macclesfield visiting committee as an attendant for over 30 years, was killed by a patient a few weeks before the date of his retirement, and whose widow has been granted a pension of 15s. per week instead of the £2 per week to which Knott would have been entitled had he not met with death; and whether, in view of the long service rendered by Knott and the circumstances of his death, he will make representations to the Macclesfield visiting committee as to the desirability of reconsidering the case and awarding the full pension to which Knott would have been entitled?
Sir H. YOUNGThe reply to the first part of the question is in the negative. I will make inquiries into the case, but if the allowance referred to was granted in the exercise of the discretion vested in the visiting committee of the asylum by Section 4 (b) of the Asylum Officers Superannuation Act, 1909, the matter does not appear to be one in which I could intervene in the manner suggested.