§ Major Sir B. FALLEasked the Secretary to the Admiralty when the back pensions due to those men of the Royal Marines who have completed time for pension since 4th August, 1914, will be paid?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAPayment of the back pensions due to Royal Marines who have completed time for pension during252W the War has, I am glad to say, been commenced, 202 payments having been made up to the end of last week. The officers commanding His Majesty's ships and stations have been directed to furnish the necessary particulars to enable payment to be made as quickly as possible. In view, however, of the wide distribution of the men of this corps, and the fact that each man has to be consulted, it is not practicable at the present moment to name a date by when all will have been paid.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why a soldier without children, who is living apart from his wife, receives 11s. 1d. for pay and 22s. 2d. for ration and other allowances, making, with the wife's separation allowance of 12s. 6d., £2 5s. 9d. per week for the maintenance of himself and his wife, while a soldier without children who is living with his wife receives 11s. 1d. for pay and only 21s. 6d. family allowance, making £1 12s. 7d. for the maintenance of himself and his wife; and whether the whole question of family allowances will be reconsidered?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe rate of family allowance is under consideration, and I hope to be able to announce a decision shortly.
Mr. CHANCELLORasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that in cases where soldiers are put to agricultural work and billeted out their family allowance is paid, but, where billeted at home, the allowance is stopped, which throws on wives, an increased charge with a decreased income; why, if farmers pay the wage agreed, the soldier spending it in his own home should deprive his wife of her allowance; and whether the War Office will reconsider this grievance with a view to its removal?
§ Mr. FORSTERThe soldier living at home receives a slight addition to the full civil wages paid to the agricultural labourer similarly placed, and I regret that the decision in this case which has been arrived at after careful consideration cannot be modified.
§ Mr. R. GWYNNEasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office (1) what are the present arrangements in regard to the separation allowances of men who are drafted into agricultural labour battalions; and, if under the existing Regulations, 253W when a man is sent to a locality in which his home is situated all pay and allowances are immediately stopped, whereas if a man is sent to a locality a few miles from his home separation allowance to his wife and children continues; and (2) what are the present arrangements in regard to the separation allowances of men who are drafted into Agricultural Companies, Labour Corps; and if, under existing Regulations, when a man is sent to a locality in which his home is situated all pay and allowances are immediately stopped, whereas if a man is sent to a locality a few miles from his home separation allowance to his wife and children continues?
§ Mr. FORSTERIf a soldier is drafted for agricultural work to his own home, separation allowance ceases. If he is separated from his wife and children, separation allowance continues.
§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether, in view of the fact that, under the recent Royal Warrant, the pensions awarded to soldiers totally incapacitated in previous wars have been brought into line with the pensions awarded to soldiers disabled in the present War, he will consider if facilities for treatment can also be provided for the disabled veterans of former wars under the same conditions as apply to men disabled in the present War?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe medical treatment given to men disabled in the present War is: confined to the wounds or other disabilities for which they have been discharged. With the disabled veterans of former wars, the disability for which the man was discharged would in most cases have reached a condition of finality leaving no scope for curative medical treatment. Moreover, the Royal hospitals at Chelsea and Kilmainham afford provision for veterans with chronic disabilities who require to be cared for in an institution. It is not, therefore, in contemplation to make any further provision for the medical treatment of the soldiers of former wars.
§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether he is now in a position to state whether a man who was partially disabled by wounds or injuries received in former wars shall be put in a position corresponding to that of a man who was totally disabled in such wars and receive the scale of pensions as laid down for the present War?
254W
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI am not yet able to announce a decision in this matter.
§ Captain CARR-GOMMasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that an application on behalf of Mr. F. B. Bolton, of 9, Rupack Street, Rotherhithe, late 280533, 1st London Regiment, was sent up by the Bermondsey Local Pensions Committee at the beginning of last month, and that no reply has been received to this application; and if he will have this matter settled forthwith, in view of the delay that has occurred?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have not been able to trace this matter. If the hon. and gallant Member will inform me of the nature of the application, so that I may identify the branch of the Ministry to which it would be appropriate, I will make further inquiries.