§ 4. Mr. Douglas Marshallasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, since provision was made under the Appendix to the Navy List, page 93, paragraph 5 (f), for widows pensions in certain circumstances granted prior to 17th December, 1929, to cover the period of the first world war, when he will consider re-introducing these measures for retired officers re-employed in the second world war.
§ Mr. W. EdwardsThe future arrangements which will govern the award of pensions to widows of officers of the three Services are still under review, but this review has now reached an advanced stage and I hope that it will be possible to make a statement before very long.
§ Mr. MarshallIs the Minister aware that I raised this point over two years ago, and an assurance was given by His Majesty's Government, but in the meantime a constituent of mine has died, leaving a widow without a pension? Will the legislation proposed be retrospective?
§ Mr. EdwardsI cannot deal with the question of retrospective legislation, as this is a matter which affects the three Services and until there is common agreement between the three Services and the Treasury, I cannot make an announcement in that direction.