§ Colonel ENGLANDasked the Minister of Pensions the amount of the balance of the King's Fund when it was taken over by his Department; what sums have been paid out annually since that date; and what types of beneficiary have received any grants, how much money remains, and who decides on the proprietary of making advances from this fund?
§ Major TRYONIn July, 1920 (the date which the hon. and gallant Member has in mind), the amount standing to the credit of the Minister's Voluntary Fund was £89,350. The annual expenditure from the fund since that date has been as follows:
£ 1st August, 1920, to 31st March, 1921 17,932 1st April, 1921, to 31st March, 1922 19,002 1st April, 1922, to 31st March, 1923 13,188 1st April, 1923, to 31st March, 1924 14,497 1st April, 1924, to 31st March, 1925 24,976 1st April, 1925, to 31st March, 1926 22,833 Grants were made to disabled men of the Navy, Army and Air Force whose disability is attributable to or aggravated by war service, and to widows, children and dependants of men who have died of such disability, in order to assist them in starting in occupations or businesses, and generally to meet applications for special assistance where grants cannot be made from public funds. The balance not already earmarked for specific distribution is approximately £17,000. All grants from the fund are, after investigation of the applications, sanctioned by myself or by the Parliamentary Secretary, acting on my behalf.