§ Mr. HOHLERasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that grants from the Patriotic Fund are being reduced by the amount of the old age pension given to the pensioner; and whether, having regard to the fact that the grant and the pension do not in many cases exceed 12s. a week, he will for the future direct that no such reduction be made?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI understand it is a fact that grants from the Patriotic Fund are being reduced by the amount of the old age pension given to the pensioner. These grants are not pensions issued to the beneficiaries as theirs as a matter of right, but are purely charitable allowances, and596W I am further informed that the above action of the Corporation has been taken because the Corporation, for want of funds, has been obliged to refuse assistance to many aged and necessitous sailors' and soldiers' widows with similar claims to those already on the Patriotic General Fund. By taking this course the Corporation have been able to make allowances in many deserving cases (where no old age pension could be granted) which they must otherwise have refused.