§ Mr. HAYESasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the arrears of pension which would have been due to the mother of the late H. P. Burns, of Liverpool, greaser, His Majesty's Ship "Himalaya," had she not died prior to the Admiralty discovering her eligibility for pension, can be paid to the next of kin, the surviving brother, whose financial contributions to the mother's support would not have been necessary had she received the pension due to her?
Mr. DAVIDSONNo application for the grant of compensation in respect of the death in 1917 of the late Mr. H. P. Burns was received during the lifetime of his mother; and, in view of the fact that awards under the Injuries in War Compensation Scheme are intended for the purpose of current maintenance, it is not the practice to make posthumous awards. The question as to whether or not the late Mrs. Burns would have been entitled to compensation had she lived has consequently not been proceeded with, and there are, therefore, no arrears which can be paid to the next-of-kin.