§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for War whether any allowance or extra pension has been awarded to Driver Philip Smith, late of the Army Service Corps, No. T4/093,020; is he aware that this soldier has been returned to his wife and four children a helpless invalid, with a pension of 4s. 8d., as a result of dysentery contracted at the Dardanelles; and, in view of the fact that this soldier's discharge dates as far back as the 15th June last, will the whole matter be taken up at once and provision made to prevent this man, his wife, and family suffering hunger?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiries are being made, and I will let my hon. Friend know the result.
§ Mr. KENNEDYasked the Secretary of State for War why the wife of R. C. S. M. Baker, No. 6355, West Indian Regiment, is compelled to pay 13s. weekly for house accommodation in Kilnavara Cottages, Cavan, the same being deducted from her allowance, whilst other tenants in these very same cottages are only paying 3s. per week; what is the value of coal, fuel, etc., allowed; and will he see that this officer's wife is not treated worse than other tenants?
§ Mr. FORSTERNo, Sir; Mrs. Baker is not compelled to pay 13s. weekly. In her case there were exceptional circumstances, and she has been given the option of vacating the house and drawing the higher rate of separation allowance.
§ Sir C. NICHOLSONasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will revise existing regulations with a view to putting an end to the hardship at present inflicted on the wives and dependants of 510W serving men who have to enter a Poor Law infirmary or other rate-aided institution for medical treatment, since under present regulations such women lose their separation allowance through no fault of their own, which may entail the break-up of their homes; and whether he is aware that, owing to this, many instances have occurred of women refusing to undergo treatment they urgently required?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am in communication with the Statutory Committee on this subject and hope it will be found possible, as in the past, to meet the necessities of these cases, to which discretionary rather than flat-rate treatment is appropriate.
§ Mr. KELLYasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office on what grounds has the separation allowance payable to Mrs. E. Radcliffe, of Churchtown, Londonderry, in respect of her son, Private Joseph Radcliffe, No. 26,664, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, British Expeditionary Force, been stopped for the past three weeks; and will he order the authorities to resume payments, including the three weeks' arrears?
§ Mr. FORSTERInquiry will be made and the hon. Member informed in due course.
§ Mr. BARNESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if his attention has been directed to the case of William M'Roberts, No. 1805, King's Own Scottish Borderers, who has been totally disabled and awarded a pension of 10s. per week only; and will he have further inquiry made regarding it?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe pension has been increased to 20s. a week, with effect from the 1st March last.
§ Mr. BARNESasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if the practice of the War Office is to accept the decision of the pensions committee and the pensions officer in regard to the degree of dependants of soldiers; is he aware of eases in which this is not being done; and, if so, will he have inquiry made into them?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe general rule is that where the pensions officer and the pensions committee agree in their assessment, the War Office accepts the finding. I am inquiring into an exceptional case which the right hon. Member recently referred to me.
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§ Mr. BARNESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet fully considered the provisions proposed by the Statutory Committee for dependants of apprentices or students who may have gone out to the War; the payment of adequate money to the families of disabled men in training for resumption of work; the increased provision of separation allowances in consequence of increased cost of living; will he say if such provisions have been sanctioned; and, if not, are they likely to be sanctioned soon?
§ Mr. McKENNAYes, Sir; I have accepted the proposals of the Statutory Committee, subject to certain agreed modifications.