§ Mr. J. P. FARRELLasked the Secretary of State for War if he can state on what basis he now proposes to grant relief to ex-soldiers and other men in different branches of the service who have become charges on the Irish rates, both in the workhouse and out of it, after losing their health mostly on foreign service; whether he is aware that in ten recent applications made to him for relief in pensions or gratuities to such cases from county Long- 581W every one of them was refused; and whether he can state if these cases came personally to his knowledge or were examined into by any competent authority at all?
§ Mr. HALDANEThe Army Pay Warrant provides for the grant of pensions to ex-soldiers who have lost their health through their military service, and I propose to adhere to this basis. The cases of other men—that is, civilians employed under the War Department—is governed by the various Superannuation Acts, and I have no power to supplement the gratuities or pensions awarded under those Acts. Applications for Army pensions are not arranged according to the county from which they come, and it is impossible, therefore, without prolonged search, to say whether ten recent applications from county Longford have been rejected. All such applications are examined by the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, who are charged under 7 George IV., cap. 16, with the examination of claims to pension, and empowered to fix the rate of pension, if any, to be paid.