§ Viscount WOLMERasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has 328W been called to the case of Mrs. M. Hamber, of 76, Sutherland Avenue, Maida Vale, widow of Sergeant Marsh Hamber, No. 5751, Royal Irish Fusiliers, who died on active service in the Tirah campaign, 1897, and to the ruling of the Ministry of Pensions on 6th November last that she is not eligible for an Army pension on the present scale on the ground that her husband died in action prior to the South African war; whether it is the intention of the Ministry of Pensions to distinguish between the widows of soldiers killed in one war and of those killed in another; if not, whether he will take steps to secure that the regulations are amended so that the widows of soldiers in all wars are equally treated; and whether he is aware that the inequality of treatment inflicts a great hardship on an exceedingly limited class of persons and which could therefore be redressed without great expense to the State?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Former War Warrants of the Ministry of Pensions are designed to increase to present war rates the existing pensions of widows who have already established their entitlement under the appropriate service Warrants or Regulations. If, as in Mrs. Hamber's case, there is no title to pension under pre-Ministry Warrants, the "Former War" Warrants of the Ministry cannot be applied. I am, however, considering the position further.