§ LORD BERESFORD rose to ask His Majesty's Government, with reference to the debate on Disabled Soldiers' Pensions on Tuesday, 29th February, whether they can now state if disabled soldiers will receive their pay until such time as pension is awarded; whether the gratuity of £2 awarded under Royal Warrant No. 1117 will now be paid to the soldier instead of to the paymaster; whether back pay will be paid in future sooner than it is at present; whether arrangements will be made that no incapacitated soldier shall go to the workhouse; whether an incapacitated soldier may be empowered to apply to the Lord Lieutenant of his county in case of distress; whether men disabled by consumption after service at the Front shall invariably receive a pension; and whether the question of appeals from men may now be put upon a inure satisfactory footing.
§ The noble and gallant Lord said: My Lords, on February 29 Lord Peel brought certain matters before your Lordships' House concerning the pensions and allowances of soldiers discharged from the Army on account of wounds and of diseases contracted or developed on service with the Colours. During that debate I asked Lord Newton, who then represented the War Office, several definite questions. The noble Lord was not able to give me replies on that occasion, and asked me to put the questions at a later date. I have now placed them on the Paper, and I hope that the noble Lord opposite will be able to answer them.
LORD SANDHURSTMy Lords, the noble and gallant Lord has correctly stated the circumstances in which he asked these Questions, and I think it will be convenient if I answer them categorically. Pension dates from the time of discharge. There should be no period of time during which a man is not in receipt of pay or pension. In fixing the date of discharge a short interval of ten days is allowed, during which the man receives pay, to enable the arrangements to be made for the payment of the pension. The £2 gratuity on discharge is credited to the man's account by his paymaster and issued as part of his balance. It is provided that a, man going on pension shall have at least 20s. in his pocket on discharge, even though the account is in debt. All men should be settled up with on discharge, and in the 395 very great majority of cases this is done. In some cases, owing to loss of documents on active service or other causes, the exact amount due cannot be immediately ascertained and then an approximate balance is paid. No discharged man whose incapacity is owing to the war would have to go to the workhouse. This does not apply to men discharged as unfit for reasons not arising from the war. It would not be desirable to impose the responsibility suggested in the Question on the Lords Lieutenant, who have no funds for the purpose nor any staff to assist them. Assurance was given in another place that men disabled by diseases aggravated by but, not wholly due to service will receive an increased allowance, though not necessarily at the full rate. All appeals from men receive careful consideration, and the appeal is not submitted to the same medical board from whom the appeal is made. Another board of medical officers considers the appeal, and if necessary the Director-General himself goes through the papers and advises on professional points.