HC Deb 17 October 1918 vol 110 cc294-304W

It will be remembered that, in addition to the increases to rates for children which came into force in March, 1915, January, 1917, and October, 1918, respectively, and those now approved, the Government relieved the soldier of all compulsory allotment in October, 1917, and raised the minimum pay of all ranks to 1s. 6d. a day in November of the same year, besides approving of the payment of proficiency pay after six months' service, and 1d. a day for each year's service since the outbreak of hostilities. Hospital stoppages were also at his time abolished, similar increases being granted to the Navy, including the issue of free kit. These increases added more than 3s. 6d. a week in every case to the pay of the lowest rank in the Services, and more than 7s. a week when he had dependants.

A statement is appended showing the rates of wives' and children's allowances for the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force as now approved, and at the various periods when they came under review and were increased.

NAVY.
Rates of Allowances Payable to Wives at Different Periods during the War.
These Rates include Separation and Minimum Allotment of 5s., before the 4th October, 1917, and Separation Allowance, Allotment Concession of 3s. 6d. and Minimum Allotment of 1s. 6d. on and after 4th October, 1917.
Pre-War to 30th September, 1914. 1st October, 1914, to 28th February, 1915. 1st March, 1915, to 17th January, 1917. 18th January, 1917, to 2nd October, 1918. From 3rd October, 1918. First Pay-day in January, 1919.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Wife … 11 0 11 0 11 0 11 0 11 0
(+ 6s. 6d. supplemental if unable to work).
Wife and 1 child … 13 0 15 0 17 0 19 6 20 6
Wife and 2 children … 15 0 18 0 21 6 26 0 28 0
Wife and 3 children … 16 0 20 0 25 0 29 6 33 6
Wife and 4 children … 17 0 21 0 27 0 31 6 36 6
Motherless children, 10s. for any child living singly. 10s. for the first child and 7s. for each other child where two or more children of the same family live together. 4s. additional per child under 14.
Motherless children, 11s. for any child living singly. 11s. for the first child and 8s. for each other child where two or more children of the same family live together.
NOTE.—1s. 6d. per week of all the rates at present payable is paid by the man as compulsory allotment.

ARMY AND ROYAL AIR FORCE.
Rates of Separation Allowances at Different Periods during the War.
Pre-War to 30th September, 1914. 1st October, to 8th November, 1914.* 9th November, 1914, to 28th February, 1915. 1st March, 1915, to 14th January, 14th January, 1917. 15th January, 1917, to October, 1918.† First Pay-day in October, 1918. First Pay-day in January, 1919.
s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d. s. d.
Wife 11 1 12 6 — 12 6 12 6 12 612 6
(+ 6s. 6d. supplemental if unable to work.)
Wife and 1 child 12 10 15 0 — 17 6 19 6 22 0 23 0
Wife and 2 children 14 7 17 6 Same as before, but soldier relieved of allotment for children 21 0 24 6 29 0 31 0
Wife and 3 children 16 4 20 0 23 0 28 0 32 6 36 6
Wife and 4 children 17 6 22 0 25 0 31 0 35 6 40 6
1s. 2d. for each additional child 2s. additional per child — 2s. additional per child 3s. additional per child 3s. additional per child under 14. 4s. additional per child under 14.
Each motherless child 2 11 3 7 — 5 0 But these rates only apply to children under 14. Children over 14 only get the previous rate. Motherless children under 14. For any child living singly 10s. Two or more living together, 10s. for the first and 7s. each for others. Children over 14 no change. Motherless children under 14. For any child living singly 11s. Two or more living together, 11s. for the first and 8s. each for others.
Motherless children under 14. For any child living singly, 7s. Two or more living together, 7s. for the first and 6s. each for others. Over 14, 5s. each.
* Soldier required to allot 1d. per child in addition.
† Soldiers were relieved from compulsory allotment as from 29th September, 1917.

Mr. CHANCELLOR

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether an allowance on account of civil liabilities fixed for a soldier is liable to reduction whilst the facts on which the allowance was made remain unaltered; whether he is aware that many reductions under such circumstances have recently been made; whether, if such reductions are not ultra vires, they are made on any fixed principle, if so, what; whether the victims have any right of appeal against reductions; and, if so, to whom and in what form?

Mr. HAYES FISHER

I have been asked to answer this question. I shall be glad to inquire into the cases the hon. Member has in mind. All grants made by the Civil Liabilities Committee are subject to revision, and they may be increased, reduced, or withdrawn, in the event of a change of circumstances or the discovery of new facts. Otherwise a grant which had been properly made would remain unaltered. The Committee are willing at all times to consider any representations which an applicant may wish to make regarding the grant made to him.

Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what has been done in regard to the bounty to which Private Walsh, No. 14476, 131st Field Ambulance, 38th Welsh Division, became entitled as a time-expired man in August, 1917; whether two-thirds of the amount of £20 has been invested in War Bonds; if the remaining one-third has been placed to his credit; whether the War Bonds certificate has been given to the soldier; if not, why this has not been done; and whether the one-third said to be standing to his credit can now be paid to him?

Mr. FORSTER

I am having inquiry made, and will communicate the result to the hon. Member in due course.

Captain BARNETT

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether, as from the 7th October, 1918, family allowance is in effect separation allowance plus 10s. 6d. a week for the keep of the soldier; whether this amount compares with a ration allowance of 14s. 7d. a week payable to the unmarried soldier and to the married soldier living apart from his wife; and, if so, whether, in view of the continued increase in the cost of living, steps will be taken to make this discrepancy less marked?

Mr. FORSTER

This question is under consideration.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he is aware that the refusal of the war bounty under Army Orders 209 of 1916 and 222 of 1918 to men whose original discharge was on grounds of wounds or ill-health presses very hardly on those whose time, plus the extra year, expired whilst they were actually in hospital and who have voluntarily rejoined the Army again, as well as those whose treatment was prolonged for months beyond the limits of their engagements; and whether he proposes to take any action in the matter?

Mr. FORSTER

It is not quite clear to which classes of men my hon. and gallant Friend refers. Men who are discharged for wounds and are not time-expired are not liable to recall under the Military Service Acts, and are not entitled to the bounty if they rejoin. Men who are discharged for wounds immediately after completing their term would be granted the bounty if they rejoined, and had not already received it. The position of the men who are kept in hospital some little time after completing their engagement but do not rejoin the Colours is now under consideration.

Mr. HOGGE

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office how many separation allowances at 5s. per week have been paid as a result of the new Regulation coming into force?

Mr. FORSTER

Actual payment has not yet taken place, but some 30,000 claims have been dealt with and will come into payment immediately.

Sir H. GREENWOOD

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the first intimation that Second-Lieutenant C. B. Long, late Coldstream Guards, who appeared before a medical board on the 8th December, 1917, received of the result was a notice which appeared in the "Gazette" of the 21st February, 1918, to the effect that he had relinquished his commission (22nd February); that this officer's allowances were paid up to the 22nd February; that the Ministry of Pensions has recognised that his disability is due to his military service; and why he has only been credited with pay up to the 3rd January, 1918?

Mr. FORSTER

This officer was demobilised on the 3rd January, his sick leave having expired previous to that date. As a demobilised officer he was not entitled to pay or allowances after that date.

Mr. WILES

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of Private J. Buss, No. 18835, Royal Marines, who was discharged on the 31st August, 1912, with a gratuity of £5, and who rejoined the Marines 4th September, 1915, with a pension of £10 13s. a year for eighteen months; whether the award of £5 made in 1912 was deducted from the award made in 1915; and if he will give the Regulation authorising this procedure?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

Private Russ was invalided from the Marines in 1912 after five years' service, and granted a gratuity of £5, at the rate of £1 for each year's service. He was again invalided in 1915 after a service of 250 days, which, under the Regulation then in force, would have given him no claim to pension or gratuity. It was found possible, however, to take his service as a whole, and to award a pension of 7d. a day for a total period amounting to three months for each year's service—that is, eighteen months for his six years' service—but to avoid double compensation it was, of course, necessary to set off the gratuity of £5 previously granted.

Mr. WILES

asked the Pensions Minister why the pension of 5s. a week awarded the sister of Private William Knowles, No. 22750, Grenadier Guards, who was killed in action in September, 1916, was cancelled when another brother residing with the pensioner increased his contribution towards the upkeep of the house from 20s. to 25s. weekly?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

Under Article 22 (1) of the Royal Warrant a pension to a dependant (other than a parent) of a deceased soldier can only be granted if the dependant is wholly or partially incapable of self-support and is in pecuniary need. From information given by Miss Knowles in June last it appears that she receives the sum of 65s. a week from her two surviving brothers for the maintenance of the household of three persons and the conditions for a grant are thus no longer fulfilled. In these circumstances the issue of pension terminated, but on cessation Miss Knowles was granted a final gratuity equal to the amount of twenty-six weeks' pension.

Mr. BOLAND

asked the Pensions Minister what decision has been reached in the matter of the application of Mr. Michael King, Killabona, Ballinskelligs, county Kerry, father of the late Private James King, No. 12075, Irish Guards, for an increase of pension?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

Mr. King's pension has been increased to the maximum rate of 15s. a week with effect from the 17th June, 1918, under Article 21 (1,a) of the Royal Warrant. Payment at the increased rate was authorised on the 1st instant.

Mr. WILES

asked the Pensions Minister what pension, if any, is now being paid to Captain W. F. Shaw, late of the Middlesex Regiment, Territorial Force Reserve, who in May last was awarded a gratuity of £60 and refused pension, although totally incapacitated from following any employment; whether he is aware that, in consequence of his pecuniary needs due to his incapacity, distraint has been threatened; and what, if anything, it is proposed to do in the matter?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The officer's disability was at first held not to be attributable to or aggravated by service, and a gratuity of £60 was awarded him. On consideration of an appeal aggravation by service was admitted, but the amount of temporary retired pay which could be given was not greater than the gratuity, since his disability was assessed at 30 per cent. only. Treatment was offered, but the officer was unable to accept it. I regret to learn of the officer's distressed circumstances, but he is ineligible for further assistance from the Ministry of Pensions.

Sir HENRY NORMAN

asked the Pensions Minister if his attention has been called to the case of Lieutenant James Jefferson, late of 50, Lambeth Street, Blackburn, and now residing at 191, Preston New Road, Blackburn, who enlisted as a private soldier and was later granted a commission in the East Lancashire Regiment, being passed fit for service, and later broke down in health and was gazetted out of the service a broken man, and who, though a gratuity was awarded him, is now, in consequence of his disability, dependent, with his wife, upon his parents for maintenance; and will he state what further action it is proposed to take in the case?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The hon. Member is under a misapprehension in thinking that Second-Lieutenant Jefferson has received a gratuity only. He appealed to the Appeals Board, who, in spite of great doubt, allowed the appeal, and retired pay has been, and is being, issued. I have recently addressed a letter to the officer in regard to a number of complaints which he persistently makes without good cause, and do not propose to take any further action.

Mr. WILES

asked the Pensions Minister what pension, if any, Second-Lieutenant A. M. MacNaughton, late of the Essex Regiment, is now receiving?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

This officer is now receiving temporary retired pay at the rate of £35 a year. The present award expires on the 15th January, 1919, when the question of renewal will be considered.

Mr. WILES

asked the Pensions Minister what pension has been awarded Second-Lieutenant Thomas F. Griffin, late of the Royal West Surrey Regiment; and when the retired pay authorised in October, 1917, was paid?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The retired pay awarded to this officer has been three shillings a day (additional to wound gratuity) from 3rd October, 1917, to the 31st March, 1918, and £175 a year from the 1st April, 1918, to 30th November, 1918. Payments are issued on the officer's application by the Paymaster-General, the exact dates of issue being unknown to the Ministry of Pensions. Through an unfortunate confusion with another officer of the same Christian and surnames, an erroneous award was authorised in October, 1917, but this was corrected, with an apology, the next month.

Sir ARTHUR SHIRLEY BENN

asked the Under-Secretary of State for War whether the widow of a second-lieutenant who was killed in action when acting as captain receives a pension as the widow of a second-lieutenant or as the widow of a man who was a captain, in fact, when killed?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The pension is the same for either rank. If the officer had been gazetted to the acting- rank of captain and still held that rank at the date of his death, the gratuity awarded to the widow in addition to pension would be at the rate for a captain's widow.