§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty, with reference to the pensions of widows of naval officers, in view of the difference in the scales obtaining as between the pre-War and the post-War pensioner; and, seeing that the cost of living is the same for both, whether he can hold out any hope that the scale of the former category will be revised, particularly because hardship prevails amongst a class of deserving widows?
§ Mr. HODGESThe post-War rates of pensions for widows of commissioned officers of all three Services were fixed by His Majesty's Government in 1920 on the recommendation of an Inter-Departmental Committee which considered the question in all its bearings and also took into account the experience gained by the administration of pensions in cases arising out of the late War. I am not aware of the reasons which led the Committee not to propose an increase in the rates of officers of the ranks specially referred to, but the rates were fixed after very full consideration, and I regret that I am not able to hold out any hope of their improvement. The question of the rates for widows of commissioned officers from Warrant rank, of Warrant officers and of officers of the coastguard is bound up with other questions affecting the Regulations for the award of widows' pensions and children's allowances, but I hope that a decision will be reached shortly.
1340W
§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary to the Secretary Admiralty why it is that the widow of a sub-lieutenant, if the death of the latter took place before the 14th August, 1920, receives no widow's pension, whereas if death took place after that date the widow does receive a pension; and whether he will rectify this anomaly?
§ Mr. HODGESThe widow of a sub-lieutenant who died before the 13th August, 1920, was eligible for a pension if the death took place in circumstances which qualified her for an award of a pension at special rates, but not in other circumstances. Having regard to the age of these officers, provision for pensions at the ordinary rates was not considered necessary. The present Regulations are based on principles common to the three fighting services, and the provision made for widows of sub-lieutenants is applicable also to widows of officers of the sane relative rank in the other services, thus including a number of officers who are considerably older. In practice, the widow of a sub-lieutenant is not likely to qualify for a pension at the ordinary rate, in consequence of the rule as to the husband's length of service.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty why it is that pensions of widows of lieut.-commanders and lieutenants are exactly the same as they were some time before the War, whereas other ranks have had a small increase whether he can see his way to increase the pensions of these ranks; how long widows' pensions of commissioned officers from warrant rank, of warrant officers and of chief officers of coastguards have been under consideration; and when a decision is likely to be reached?
§ Mr. HODGESThe post-War rates of pensions for widows of commissioned officers of all three services were fixed by His Majesty's Government in 1920 on the recommendation of an inter-Departmental Committee, which considered the question in all its bearings, and also took into account the experience gained by the administration of pensions in cases arising out of the late War. I am not aware of the reasons which led the Committee not to propose an increase in the rates for officers of the ranks specially referred to, but the rates were fixed after very full 1341W consideration, and I regret that I am not able to hold out any hope of their improvement. The question of the rates for widows of commissioned officers from warrant rank, of warrant officers and of officers of the coastguard is bound up with other questions affecting the regulations for the award of widows' pensions and children's allowances, but I hope that a decision will be reached shortly.