§ Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the maximum pension payable to the widowed mother of a soldier killed in action, upon whom she was dependent, is 15s. per week; and whether, as this sum is inadequate to enable her to live, he will consider the possibility of an increase?
§ Sir W. WomersleyA pension to the widowed dependent parent of a soldier is, generally speaking, in the nature of an annuity; and the rates are fixed with regard to the reasonable probability of what the deceased son might have been expected to be able to contribute indefinitely had he survived, not withstand- 1715W ing possible changes in later life in his own circumstances. The rates were fully considered by the Government before the issue of the present Royal Warrant and I can hold out no hope of their being increased at the present time.