Colonel MILD MAYasked the Pensions Minister whether, under existing arrangements, the widow of a discharged man who has died of his Service disability may be left for four or five months to live on her pension without the 20 per cent. bonus, although the amount of the pension, without the bonus, is admittedly insufficient as a living rate under present circumstances; and, if so, whether some action will be taken in the matter?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSUpon the death of a discharged man, the question of the widow's entitlement to pension has to be determined, and during the period of investigation the local committees can make recoverable advances to the widow at pension rate. Committees have not hitherto been authorised to pay bonus with recoverable advances, but I propose to issue an instruction to the committees enabling them to do so in future.
§ Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that Mrs. Wood, widow of the late William Charles Wood, who took part in the Jutland battle on His Majesty's ship "Malaya" and died twelve months ago, has not yet received any allowance for her youngest child, born five months after her husband's death; and if he will take steps to see that his Department, who have already been written to on several occasions, pays to this woman the husband's gratuity and child's allowance without further delay?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe claim of Mrs. Wood to the naval assets of the late William Charles Wood, leading seaman, Royal Naval Reserve, was admitted on the 18th October last, and the amount due in that respect was duly paid to her. The claim for gratuity is now being investigated, and payment will be made to Mrs. Wood in the course of a few days. The question of an allowance to the posthumous child is, I am advised, a matter for the Ministry of Pensions. I am sending my hon. friend's inquiry across.