§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the application made by Mrs. Thompstone, of Booth Street, Gorton, for a dependant's pension in respect of the death of her son Driver E. Thompstone, Royal Artillery Territorial Army, the application being refused on the ground that at the time of the lad's death she was not in pecuniary need and largely dependent upon him; whether he is aware that 1351W before the deceased soldier was buried the father died, so that the son, had he lived, would have been her main support; and whether, having regard to the special circumstances of the case, he will authorise the issue of a dependant's pension in lieu of the ex-gratis grant of £50 given to the mother as compensation for the loss of her son?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe facts of the case are as stated in the question, and it was in consideration of the death of the father, following so shortly upon the death of the son, that theex-gratia grant to Mrs. Thompstone was made. But the ease falls definitely outside the conditions for the grant of a dependant's pension, and I regret that I am not able to authorise the issue of such pension.