§ Mr. JOYCEasked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been called to the case of Mrs. Mary Phillips, of 3, Little Glentworth Street, Limerick, whose son, Private William Phillips, No. 5,458, 5th Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, made his mother an allowance from his pay, whose complaint is that she receives only 6s. 4d. per week, which is altogether inadequate to support herself and her other children; whether, according to the regulations, this widow is entitled to a further allowance of money; and whether consideration will be given to this and other cases of a like nature1?
Mr. BAKERAccording to the regulations, Mrs. Phillips is not entitled to more than the amount of support her son actually gave her before enlistment, after allowing for the cost of his own maintenance. There is nothing to suggest that the pension officer has failed to assess the allowance rightly; but in accordance with the recommendation of the Select Committee, an opportunity of appeal will be provided in this and other cases.
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§ Mr. JOYCEasked the Under-Secretary for War whether his attention has been directed to the case of Mary O'Connor, of 6, Punches Lane, Carey's Road, Limerick, Ireland, a widow, whose only son, Private Denis O'Connor, No. 5,443, 2nd battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers, 1st division Expeditionary Force, who is only receiving 5s. weekly, which is not enough to keep her, with a view of having her case more favourably considered; whether inquiry will be made as to a promise made by the Great Southern and Western Railway Company of Ireland to grant half the wages of her son to this poor widow during her son's absence in the Army; and whether this promise has been carried out?
Mr. BAKERThe allowance of 5s. a week was a provisional assessment, as Private Denis O'Connor made no allotment to his mother prior to his embarking for service oversea. His declaration has since been received, arrears of allotment have been paid up, and Mrs. O'Connor is now being paid at the weekly rate of 9s. 1d. applicable to her case. The question of the employers' contribution is not a matter in which the War Office can intervene.