§ 23. Mr. Skeetasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the grant of a pension of £500 per annum to holders of the Victoria Cross, and, following their death, to their widows for their life, in recognition of the gratitude of the State for special services rendered in time of national emergency.
§ Mr. BrookeNo, Sir. New arrangements for the payment of annuities to holders of the Victoria Cross were announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 28th July, 1959. No amendment of these arrangements is now contemplated.
§ Mr. SkeetIs my right hon. Friend aware that in the United States the holders of the Medal of Honour receive 100 dollars per month, which is the equivalent of £400 a year? Is he not also aware of the intense hardship which is caused to some holders of the Victoria Cross and their families due to the parsimony of all Governments in not giving adequate recompense for gallantry?
§ Mr. BrookeI cannot accept that one can recompense distinguished gallantry by money payments. These Victoria Cross annuities have never throughout their whole history been intended as pensions. I cannot do better than to repeat the words of my right hon. Friend the Member for Woodford (Sir W. Churchill), who told the House ten years ago:
The pecuniary award attached to the grant of the Victoria Cross has no relation whatever to the fame of the deed for which it is awarded."—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 19th March. 1952; Vol. 497, c. 2318.]
§ Mr. KershawHow much would it cost—
§ Mr. SpeakerI am a little disturbed about our progress. I called the next Question.