§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions whether the Department compensates widows of men killed in their service on the same scale as in other Civil 2147W Departments, such as those under the Admiralty or War Office; if so, whether his attention has been drawn to the specific case of Mrs. Nina Cross, whose husband was an ex-officer; whether he is aware that he was killed while escorting a convoy of petrol to Slough under the Ministry of Munitions, and that the widow, under Section 1 of the Superannuation Act, has only been awarded a pension of £16 6s. 8d., or? per cent. of his pay, with a single payment of £12 for his child; and whether the pension can be increased?
Mr. HOPEThe deceased transport foreman is not considered to be a workman within the meaning of the Workmen's Compensation Act, 1906. The case has therefore been dealt with under Section 1 of the Superannuation Act, 1887, which applies equally to civilians injured in the employment of any Government Department; and the award that has been made is not less favourable to the dependants than an award under the Workmen's Compensation Act. I am making inquiries into the basis on which the award has been calculated.