HC Deb 05 September 1940 vol 365 cc1-2
1. Mr. Rhys Davies

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of persons at present in receipt of pensions in respect of service in the South African War?

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions (Miss Wilkinson)

If, as I presume, the hon. Member has in mind pensions granted for death and disablement, there are approximately 4,900 disablement and 650 widows' pensions in payment in respect of service in wars prior to the Great War. The majority of these would undoubtedly be cases arising out of the South African War, but the records of the Department do not enable me to give the precise number.

Mr. Davies

Can the hon. Lady say whether the pensions that are paid in respect of the South African War have been brought up to the scale of the pensions in respect of the last war and of this war?

Miss Wilkinson

The pre-war pensions, that is, those prior to what we call the 'Great War, were brought up to the level of the 1919 to 1921 period, and have not been changed.