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Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £12,500, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1947, for war pensions and allowances (including cost of treatment) arising out of the war of 1914–18 to merchant seamen and fishermen and their dependants and the expenses of the Fishing Vessels Committee.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Mr. G. R. Strauss)The Ministry of Transport is liable for the payment of certain pensions and allowances, including cost of treatment, in regard to men who were in the 1914–18 war. As a result of improvements in scales which have been agreed to by the Government and the Treasury for similar pensioners and their dependants, we have raised proportionately the pensions and allowances due to the men who were entitled to them under the 1914–18 scheme. This accounts for the £12,500.