§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether it was officially stated that 1,570 men between the ages of fifty and sixty-three are still being paid from the charitable funds of Greenwich Hospital?
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§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Noble Lord was informed on 23rd November last that the number of ex-Reservists drawing the 5d. a day augmentation of pension from Greenwich Hospital funds was approximately 1,570, but no one now in receipt of this pension is of a less age than fifty-seven.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Admiralty can now see their way to pay the 1,570 men between the ages of fifty and sixty-three their Greenwich Hospital age pensions of 5d. a day from Naval Votes?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI would remind the Noble Lord that in recent years a sum of £22,400 has been added to the amount available for Greenwich Hospital age pensions, namely, a grant of £16,000 a year from Navy Votes for the purpose of providing additional age pensions for men who entered the Royal Navy or Marines before 29th June, 1873; and £6,400 a year additional rent for the use of the Royal Naval College buildings. In addition to the above, since 1st April, 1910, the charge for the age pensions of men of the Seamen Pensioner Reserve—which was previously transferred to Greenwich Hospital Funds when the recipients attained fifty-five years of age—has, in the case of men reaching that age subsequent to the date mentioned, been borne by Navy Votes, and continues to be so borne until such time as the men would receive the Greenwich Hospital age pension in the ordinary course of selection. This change has enabled a substantial increase to be made in the number of age pensions which can be awarded annually to those men who did not belong to the Seamen Pensioner Reserve. I am afraid I am not prepared to recommend any further grant from Navy Votes.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether, seeing that Greenwich Hospital funds are intended for charitable purposes, he will explain why these funds are being used to pay men for Imperial services?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe Noble Lord presumably refers to the charge for the age pensions of men of the Seamen Pensioner Reserve, which was formerly transferred to Greenwich Hospital funds when the men attained the age of fifty-five. I would remind the Noble Lord that, since the 1st April, 1910, it has been arranged1240W for this charge to fall on Navy Votes until such time as the men would receive the Greenwich Hospital age pension in the ordinary course of selection.