§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the widow of an Army pensioner is not entitled to receive any part of the pension accruing due to her late husband at the time of his death in the event of his dying one day prior to that upon which such pension would become payable to him had he lived; whether, having regard to the hardship caused thereby in many cases, he will consider the desirability of amending the War Office regulations relating to the matter so as to bring such regulations into line with the regulations 1879W relating to naval pensioners, which provide that in such a case a portion of the accruing pension shall be paid to the widow; and whether he will consider the desirability of making such amendment retrospective for two years?
§ Mr. SHAWWhere an Army pension is payable quarterly in advance and payment has been claimed regularly, nothing can have accrued at the date of death. I am aware of the Admiralty rule in such cases that a further month's pension may be paid where death occurs within two days from the end of the quarter, but I am unable to authorise the adoption of a similar rule for Army pensioners.