§ Mr. WESTWOODasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if he is aware that Army pensioners of the rank of sergeant used to be allowed to commute portions of their pensions beyond 30d. per day; that applications have been made to commute sums beyond that amount; that the applications have been refused and reasons given that only sums beyond 36d. can now be commuted; and will he be prepared to consider applications for commutation of sums beyond 30d. per day?
§ Mr. GWYNNEThe capital sum paid for commutation of soldiers' pensions is charged directly upon the Vote for the Army in the year of payment, and the amount that can be found for this purpose out of the total of the Army Vote is necessarily limited. Applications to commute have been so numerous of late that it has been necessary for the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital to adopt some method of restricting their grants, and with the approval of the War Office they have temporarily increased the uncommutable minimum to 36d. a day. I cannot reduce that minimum until either more money is available or applications 'to commute are fewer.
§ Mr. DARBISHIREasked the Under-Secretary of State for War if he will arrange that when life service pensions are awarded in future the fact that they may be liable to cancellation will be stated on the face of the document, and that the authority under which they are granted may be stated so that the pensioner may be fully alive to the conditions of the award?
§ Mr. GWYNNEI am consulting the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital on these suggestions, and will communicate with the hon. Member in due course.