§ Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that the widow of a marine who lost his life in His Majesty's Ship "Courageous," has been notified that she will continue to draw allowances for herself and her four children for 13 weeks after which she will be given a pension; whether he is aware that the receipt of allowances only means a serious, if temporary, reduction in her income; and whether he will take steps to ensure that the widow of a man losing his life in the Navy shall draw a sum not less than the sum she was receiving at the time of his death until a pension is paid?
§ Mr. ShakespeareAfter the death of a man serving in the Royal Navy or Royal Marines not only are marriage allowance and children's allowance paid to his widow for a period of 13 weeks, but also an amount equal to the qualifying allotment which the man must declare to obtain marriage allowances. These payments are interim allowances paid while the widow's title to pension is being investigated. Should the pension awarded exceed the payment already made by the Admiralty, arrears are paid, but if on the other hand the converse is the case the difference is not recovered and the payment of pension is commenced at the expiry of 13 weeks.