§ Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether he will consider a modification of the terms recently outlined under which the war bonus of 20 per cent, will be paid on the disability retired pay of officers, nurses, and naval warrant officers, and on the pensions awarded to their widows and relatives, owing to the fact that the money limits laid down result in considerable hardship when comparison is drawn between the cases of totally disabled and partially disabled officers in receipt of alternative retired pay, and particularly when consideration is given to the case of dependants where the rates laid down as to money limits are the maximum rates of pension which may be granted under the Regulations, and which often do not approximate to the proved dependency on the deceased officer; and whether the payment of the bonus authorised may be antedated to 1st November, 1918, from 1st January, 1919, to bring the case of officers and their widows and dependants into line with those of non-commissioned officers and men, having regard to the fact that the cost of living affected equally all classes of pensions during that period?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe money limits to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers were carefully considered before the terms of the bonus were decided upon, as was also the period for which the bonus should be payable, and I cannot promise any revision at the present time.