§ Captain BARNETTasked the Pensions Minister whether, in view of the continued rise in the cost of living, he will consider the necessity of increasing the total disablement pension, and of increasing at the same time the grant of 27s. 6d. per week now payable to discharged men in training for trades?
§ Mr. HODGEIt is not in contemplation to increase the amount of the total disablement pension. With regard to men in training, the allowance of 27s. 6d. per week carries with it an allowance of 13s. 9d to the man's wife (in addition to children's allowances) if he is compelled to live away from home, and if he is boarded out in a hostel or lodging he may derive further benefit by the limitation of the charge for his maintenance to 17s. 6d. per week. In the case of married men under training who are living at home, a supplementary allowance may now be given under certain conditions, and an instruction defining the scope of this concession will shortly be issued to the local committees.
§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Pensions Minister why no pension has been granted to Mrs. Wright, of 8, Regent Street, Nottingham, the mother of Second-Lieutenant Tom Wright, Lincolnshire Regiment, who was killed in action; whether he is aware that Second-Lieutenant Wright was, before entering the Army, substantially in the position of a learner in his business; and that the refusal of a pension in this case is a breach of the undertaking given that special consideration would be shown to the parents of apprentices and learners?
§ Mr. HODGEThe case of Mrs. Wright, as the mother of an officer, is for consideration under the Royal Warrant of 1st August, 1917. She was, as indicated in the question, not dependent on her son1390W before the War; moreover, she received no support from him during the period of nearly a year, during which he held a commission. She is not in these circumstances eligible for a pension. On reviewing the case, and having regard to her small means, I have, however, decided to grant Mrs. Wright a gratuity of £85, and instructions for its issue will shortly be given.
§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether he is now in a position to state whether a man who was paritally disabled by wounds or injuries received in former wars shall be put in a position corresponding to that of a man who was totally disabled in such wars, and receive the scale of pensions as laid down for the present War?
§ Mr. RENDALLasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the Baker Street office of his Ministry sent a postcard to Mrs. E. Harris, 12, Court Road, Kingswood, Bristol (identity certificate No. S.C.B. 1623), on 6th July, saying that a book of allowance forms for further payment of her pension had that day been dispatched to the post office, Kingswood; that on repeated applications to that post office she was each time informed that they had not arrived; that she and her friends continually wrote the Pensions Office complaining of this; that no answer to any of these letters was sent; that on 24th July Mr. A. F. Moon, J.P., wrote the Ministry, pointing out that Mrs. Harris and her five children had then been three weeks without a farthing, and that, no reply being seat on 1st August, Mr. Moon wired, with no further result up to 4th August; and if he will explain the delay, express to the pensioner his regret, and forthwith see that Mrs. Harris gets the allowance forms promised her on 6th July?
§ Mr. HODGEI have made inquiries in this case, and I find that a book of allowance forms was dispatched to the Post Office, Kingswood, on, the 6th July. Apparently it did not arrive, but the Post Office officials, who must have been daily expecting the book, made no communication to the issue office disclosing the fact of the miscarriage. There was, I regret to find, a certain amount of delay 1391W at the issue office in dealing with the correspondence in this case, but letters explaining the position have now been sent both to Mrs. Harris and to Mr. Moon, and the local committee have been instructed by wire to make recoverable advances pending the issue of a new ring-paper and allowance book.
§ Lord HENRY CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that Mrs. Samples, the mother of Private George Samples, No. 28527, B company, Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action on 14th June, 1916, has received no pension; and whether, seeing that it has now been owing for over two years, he will cause payment to be made to her without further delay?
§ Mr. HODGESeparation allowance had not been claimed in this case, and the question of pension could not, therefore, be considered until an application was received. The first application for pension reached the Ministry on the 27th June, 1918, and steps were at once taken to have the case investigated by the local war pensions committee. When the Report of the Committee is received the question of pension will be decided.
§ Mr. HOUSTONasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that Private Thomas P. Mitchell, No. 355428, King's Liverpool Regiment, joined the regiment on 4th August, 1914, at the age of sixteen, and was shortly afterwards sent to France, and on 3rd August, 1917, was killed in action at the age of nineteen; whether he can see his way to grant a pension or gratuity to the parents of this boy, who are in poor circumstances; whether he is aware that numerous applications have been made by the parents without success; whether he is aware that the Member for West Toxteth has been in communication with him on this matter, but so far has only received an acknowledgment from his secretary that inquiry is being made into the matter; and whether he can now state what his decision is?
§ Mr. HODGEThe claim for separation allowance in this case was rejected by the War Office Appeals Committee in January last, on the ground that the parents were not dependent on the soldier. Pension based on pre-war dependence cannot,1392W therefore, be granted. The present circumstances of the household are such as to preclude the award of a parent special pension, but should it later occur that the parents have become incapable of self-support, and are in need, a further application will be entertained.