§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the amount of separation allowance paid to Mrs. M'Hugh, 63, Scotland Road, Black-burn, for each of her three sons, Private J. M'Hugh, Private. Joseph M'Hugh, and Second Air-mechanic H. M'Hugh; how-much of this in each case is a voluntary allotment and how much the State grant; whether in the case of Second Air-mechanic H. M'Hugh there is a voluntary allotment of 5s. 3d. which should be paid by the central pay officer, Royal Air Force, Woking; and whether this voluntary allotment is being paid to the mother?
§ Mr. FORSTERMrs. M'Hugh is receiving a separation allowance from Army funds of 27s. 11d. a week, which represents the maximum allowance of 25s. a week issuable for two dependants on two or more soldiers or airmen, together with an excess allotment of 2s. 11d. a week which was taken over as a State charge from 29th September, 1917. Second Air-mechanic H. M'Hugh was originally allotting 5s. 3d. a week but 3s. 6d. of this became a State charge, leaving him chargeable with a voluntary allotment of 1s. 9d. a week, which is being paid by the Central Pay Office of the Royal Air Force.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he will give instructions for the payment of the dependency allowance in the case of No. 511431, Lance-Corporal J. B. Welsh, 780 Area Employment Company, who transferred his allowance from his mother to his wife as from the 12th April, 1918, his mother's payments being stopped on the 12th April but the payments to the wife were not resumed until the 17th June, 1918; and will he see that the payments between these dates are made at once, as the regimental paymaster will not reply to the wife's request?
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§ Mr. FORSTERInquiry will be made and the hon. Member informed of the result in due course.
§ Mr. ALDENasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that Mrs. Brodie, 2, Tebworth Road, Tottenham, whose husband, private No. 34712, 1st Wilts Regiment, is missing, and who is entitled to receive a temporary pension, has not yet received notice of that pension, although-Form 45 E.F. 347 (C2 Cas.) was forwarded by the hon. Member for Tottenham filled up correctly to the lieutenant-colonel in charge of the No. 1 Records, No. 8 District, Exeter, in the envelope supplied by the Records Office, on 29th October, and that the marriage certificate and birth certificate were forwarded on 2nd November; and whether he can make any statement on the subject?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThis case has only recently been brought to the notice of my Department. Separation allowance is payable until the 24th instant, when pension commences, and steps have already been taken to ensure that there shall be no break in the continuity of payment.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Pensions Minister why in the case of the late Private T. Noone, No. 29041, W Company, Lancashire Fusiliers, no allowance or pension was paid to his mother for the period between the 25th July, 1916, when he was reported missing, and June, 1917, when his death was accepted; and whether, in view of the fact that a pension has been granted from the 20th August, 1917, the mother is entitled to either a pension or Army pay daring the eleven months during which he was regarded as missing?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe late soldier did not make any allotment from his pay, and consequently his mother was not eligible for separation allowance under the Regulations then existing, and the case did not come forward for pension when the man was reported missing. The first application for pension was received in August, 1917, and it has been decided that in cases of this nature the pension shall have effect from the date of application. This follows the rule laid down by the War Office for cases of delay in claiming separation allowance. The question as to pay should be addressed to the War Office.
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§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Pensions Minister if he will accelerate the settlement of the case of the pension of the widow of the late Private I. Black, No. 3/28943, 3rd East Lancashire Regiment, which has been before his Department for over twelve months, the man having died in May last and a notice having been sent to him with a railway warrant on 11th September to attend the Appeals Tribunal at Manchester?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have not sufficient time to ascertain the causes of the delay in this case, but will take steps to do so, and I will also see that the question of the widow's pension is settled as early as possible.
§ Mr. SNOWDENasked the Pensions Minister if, in view of the promise that a flat minimum rate of pension of 5s. a week should be given in cases where no enlistment dependency had been proved, this flat rate of 5s. will be paid for past cases where the amount of pension is less than 5s., or where no pension at all has been granted because the parents were not in an impecunious condition?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe flat rate pension of 5s. a week for the parents of serving soldiers will be paid for past cases where the amount of the existing pension is less than 5s. with effect from the first pay-day in November, 1918. No application by the parent will be necessary in these cases. It will be realised that it will take some considerable time to deal with the large number of cases involved. In cases where no pension is in issue application should be made through the local war pensions committee of the parents' district. Grants in past cases will have effect from the first pay-day in November if application is made by a date to be specified later. A general announcement on the subject will be made through the Press at an early date.