§ Mr. NORMAN CRAIGasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether ho is aware that, on the 21st July, 1897, Edward Thomas Ashley was invalided from the Royal Marines through active service in the Benin Expedition with on injury pension of £18 5s. per annum, and that his character throughout his service and on discharge was very good; will he say whether any conditions were attached to the grant of such pension; whether he has four children dependent on him, that he is unfit for heavy work, and that during the last three years he has supplemented such pension by light work in an hotel at wages of 17s. 6d. per week; and whether, seeing that, on the 30th March, 1911, the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty withdrew such pension on the ground that Ashley had been earning good wages in one situation for the last three years, he will obtain the reconsideration of this decision?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAAshley was invalided in 1897 for remittent fever—contracted in the Benin Expedition—after service with very good character, but extending over three years 286 days only. The Regulations do not contemplate the award of permanent pensions in cases of this kind, and Ashley's pension was accordingly granted from year to year, its renewal being dependent principally upon his earning capacity as affected by the disability which occasioned his discharge. 203W The pension was continued at varying rates under the periodical medical reports until 31st March of this year, the basis of award being the man's inability to contribute to his own support. The pension was stopped when it was found that the man had been earning 17s. 6d. a week for the previous three years. I see no reason for revising this decision.