§ Mr. HARRY HOPEasked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mrs. Thompson, Mount of Gloriat, Milton of Campsie, Stirlingshire, whose. son Private Frederick Thompson, No. 40945, 8th Battalion, Sea-forth Highlanders, joined the Army in beginning of 1913, and was killed in 1917 in France; whether he is aware that she has received no gratuity in respect of his loss and only gets a weekly pension of 12s. 10d., and so is suffering severely, as her husband is sixty-five years of age and unfit for work, and she herself is sixty-two years of age, and has no other means of support; and whether he will recommend the payment of a gratuity or a larger pension?
§ Sir JAMES CRAIGMrs. Thompson applied for a pension at a time when she was not in pecuniary need, and she was awarded a life pension of 10s. 8d. a week on the basis of pre-war dependence. I cannot trace that she has ever applied for any increase of pension, but the case will now be investigated to ascertain whether her present circumstances justify the grant of a higher pension under Article 21 (1, b) of the Royal Warrant.