§ Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Pensions whether a final weekly allowance, with or without a terminal gratuity, 734W is in fact a gratuity disbursed by weekly payments; whether, on the recommendation of a war pensions committee, the award may be paid in a lump sum to assist the pensioner to purchase a house, or for other definite purposes likely to be of permanent benefit; why the living pensioner should receive more consideration than the widow of a deceased pensioner; and if he will issue instructions that the former practice of the Ministry shall again become operative, and that any balance of a final weekly allowance unpaid on the death of a pensioner shall be credited to the estate of the deceased, and be available for the widow and orphans?
§ Major TRYONA final weekly allowance is not a gratuity paid by instalments and is properly payable only to the end of the week in which the death of the recipient occurs as is the case in an award of conditional or permanent weekly pension. Where it can be proved to be to the distinct and permanent advantage of the recipient. a final weekly allowance may, on the recommendation of a war pensions committee, be paid in a lump sum, but the fact that the pensioner may be permitted under conditions to receive such payment cannot. be held to entitle the widow to claim a lump sum after the death of her husband.