HC Deb 05 February 1918 vol 101 cc2156-7W
Colonel L. WILSON

asked the Pensions Minister if he can state the number of non-commissioned officers and men now alive who are drawing pensions for total loss of sight, the result of wounds received during the South African campaign, and the average amount of the pension being paid to these men?

Sir A. GRIFFITH - BOSCAWEN

I regret that I cannot. Records were not kept by the Chelsea Commissioners during the South African War of the number of men pensioned for different diseases or wounds. The information could only be obtained by a detailed examination of every pension awarded during that war and for some years afterwards, a process involving an amount of labour which, in the present stress of work, could not be justifier.