49. Lieut.-Colonel TODDasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the fact that more than 50 per cent. of the Members of the House have put their names to the Motion asking for the case of the ex-ranker officers to be reopened, he will provide an early opportunity to discuss that request?
§ The PRIME MINISTERIn view of the state of Parliamentary business I regret that I cannot hold out any hope of special facilities being given for the discussion of this subject. This question has been fully considered and decided on more than one occasion and under more than one Government, and I see no reason for reopening it.
Lieut.-Colonel TODDIn view of the fact that more than 50 per cent. of the House has expressed a wish, can the right hon. Gentleman hold out no hope of it being met in any way?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND - TROYTECan the right hon. Gentleman say why the Government never pay the least attention to the wishes of their back bench supporters?
§ 69. Mr. JANNERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will give particulars of any other claims which have arisen as a result of the efforts which are now being made to get a settlement of the claim of ex-ranker officers?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Douglas Hacking)No other claims have been received as a result of the present efforts to reopen this question.
§ Mr. JANNERWill the right hon. Gentleman say whether he is now prepared to consider this matter on its merits?
§ Mr. HACKINGThat is exactly what we have done. We have considered it upon its merits.
§ Mr. JANNERAm I to understand that the right hon. Gentleman admits that there are extraneous matters that affected the decision in this matter.
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir, I do not admit that, but it does not follow that 1823 because there are no consequential claims when there is merely an effort being made, that there would be no such claims if this grant were actually conceded. In the opinion of the Barnes Committee, if this claim were acceded to, it would in fact be followed by consequential claims.
§ Mr. HACKINGI am afraid I cannot answer for the Admiralty.
71. Lieut.-Colonel TODDasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether the amount of reassessment on the previously earned pensions received by ex-ranker officers was in any way, rank for rank, greater than that received by all other ranks who were also re-enlisted pensioners?
§ Mr. HACKINGNo, Sir.
Lieut.-Colonel TODDCan the right hon. Gentleman say why this particular class of very deserving pensioner has been selected and his pension reduced, while other similar pensions are still being drawn in full?
§ Mr. HACKINGI do not quite understand the question, because all these ex-ranker officers have been treated in the same way, and they have all derived the benefit of the increase.
Lieut.-Colonel TODDIs it not a fact that 65 per cent. of the disability pension can be withdrawn if the pensioners are earning something?
73. Miss WARD forasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the widow of Captain Ernest Higginbotham, 3rd Durham Light Infantry, an ex-ranker officer, who served for 25 years both in the ranks and as an officer, and whose only son was killed in the Great War, is solely dependent on her widow's State pension of 10s. weekly, plus 5s. weekly granted on account of the death of her son; and whether he will reconsider this case, with a view to the same pension being granted to Mrs. Higginbotham as would have been the case had her husband been given the same status as the ordinary holder of a permanent commission?
§ Mr. HACKINGPensions in respect of length of service are provided only for the widows of regular officers and substantive warrant officers, Class I. Captain Higginbotham did not fulfil either of these conditions, and I am afraid that his case cannot be treated exceptionally.
§ Captain FULLERCan they not exercise their discretion under the Royal Warrant?
§ Mr. HACKINGThis is another case concerning an ex-ranker officer. It belongs to the same general question.