HC Deb 02 March 1921 vol 138 cc1832-3W
Sir T. BRAMSDON

asked the Minister of Pensions why men who belonged to the Royal Fleet Reserve and were invalided during the late War are not being paid the new service allowances from the 1st April, 1919, although their services have been recognised by their having been awarded life pensions?

Mr. MACPHERSON

The new service allowances are granted as compensation to men who, by reason of their being invalided, have been deprived of the oppor- tunity of qualifying for long service pensions. In the case of the men of the Royal Fleet Reserve, who were called up for service during the War, there was no loss of prospective pension, and therefore no ground for compensation beyond the pensions to which their services and their disabilities may entitle them.