§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty what is the scale of pension awarded to 1424W the dependants of officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in the recent disaster to Submarine L 24; whether this scale is commensurate with that awarded to the dependants of those who lost their lives upon active service during the War; and, if not, whether, seeing that the risks undergone are equally great, he can see his way to increase the scale to a war basis for those who lose their lives in any service operation?
§ Mr. HODGESThe scale of pensions applicable to the dependants of the officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in Submarine L 24 is that laid down for cases arising after the termination of the War and is on a lower basis than that operative in cases arising out of the War when a considerable portion of the civil population was mobilised. The scale is in force for the Army and the Air Force as well as for the Navy, and was adopted only after the fullest consideration by the three Service Departments. It is regretted that it is not possible to revise the new scale.
§ Major HORE-BELISHAasked the Par-whether pensions have been awarded to all the dependants of those officers, petty officers, and men who lost their lives in Submarine L 24, or only to those dependants to whom the deceased themselves made allotments through the Admiralty?
§ Mr. HODGESProvided the conditions laid down in the Regulations are fulfilled, pensions are awarded irrespective of 1425W whether allotments have been made through official channels. There are a few cases arising out of the loss of Submarine L 24 which it has not yet been possible to obtain certain necessary information, but pensions have been awarded in the case of all the widows, and children under the age of 16, in respect of whom the necessary particulars of relationship have been furnished, and also in the case of those dependants in which the condition as to age, relationship, dependency and present need are fulfilled. Every effort is being made to expedite the inquiries in the outstanding cases, but if the hon. Member has any specific case in mind in which there appears to be undue delay and will give me the necessary particulars, I will have inquiries made.