§ Mr. HOHLERasked the First Lord of the Admiralty if he is aware of the considerable number of men invalided from the Navy who have temporarily lost their mental balance and have been sent to asylums, and that whilst there the local authorities claim and receive their pensions or allowances, leaving their wives and children to exist as best they may; and will he at once take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure that adequate provision be made for the wives and children of these men?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMen invalided from the Navy for insanity attributable to the Service, and, in non-attributable cases, those with length of service of ten years and upwards to their credit, are, irrespective of the cause of insanity, sent to Yarmouth Hospital. The former, about ten in all at present, are borne on full pay for a period of eighteen months from first entry in a naval hospital, if so long retained, and allotment and separation allowance are continued to dependants during this period. In no case has the eighteen months yet elapsed, but it is proposed when such cases arise, to award total disablement pensions and allocate a considerable proportion for the use of the dependants. About five other men have become insane after discharge as a consequent development of attributable disease, and pensions of at least 25s. a week, with the addition of 2s. 6d. for each 47W child, have been awarded. The balances, after deduction of an average claim of 12s. a week by the parochial authorities, are paid to the wives of other dependants. Cases may arise in which it is advisable not to pay to other dependants the whole of the balance, when the dependency is only partial, but to limit payment to the actual amount of dependence. Arrangements are, however, being made for these cases also to be transferred to Yarmouth Hospital, unless there are reasons against such transfer. In non-attributable cases sent to Yarmouth, pensions are not payable, but the wives and children are granted small allowances out of Greenwich Hospital funds, from 4s. a week upwards. The total number of other naval pensioners at present patients in public asylums is about 150, of whom about fifteen are men discharged since the outbreak of War. These are men whose disease is non-attributable, and in many cases has arisen after discharge. In some of these cases, either the whole or a balance of pension is paid to the wives. Under Section 335 of the Lunacy Act of 1890, however, the guardians can claim the cost of maintenance, and any proposal to remove this power would naturally meet with opposition from the boards of guardians throughout the country. In the experience of the Admiralty it is found that the boards, in making their claims, give full weight to the needs of the families of lunatic pensioners, and take into consideration the local circumstances. If my hon. and learned Friend will give me particulars of any case in which the guardians do not appear to be as sympathetic as he considers they should be, I will inquire as to the full circumstances. It is not considered, however, that there is any necessity to disturb present arrangements by legislation.