§ Sir R. HUTCHISONasked the Secretary of State for War how many living Victoria Cross officers and men are in receipt of the maximum Victoria Cross annuity of £75; how many applications 1288W for it have been made; whether, in connection with this special annuity, any account is taken of the amount of Wardisablement pension, distinguished conduct pension, or of old age pension which a Victoria Cross applicant may be drawing, or to which he may later be come entitled, either under the Old Age Pension Acts of 1908 to 1924 or the Contributory Pensions Act of 1925; and whether he will consider the transference of any annuity granted to a married Victoria Cross officer or man, British service, to his widow in the event of his death, following the rule adopted in the Indian Army?
§ Mr. SHINWELLEight recipients of the Victoria Cross are receiving special increased Victoria Cross annuities of whom two are drawing the full £75. Information is not available as to the number of applications for these increased annuities but I understand that very few are received. All pensions from public funds, other than Contributory Old Age pensions, are taken into account in assessing the annuity, including disability pensions, distinguished conduct pensions and old age pensions under the Acts of 1908–1924. As regards the last part of the question I regret that it is not possible to accept the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion. The rule to which he refers applies, I understand, only to Indian personnel of the Indian Service whose code of pay and pensions necessarily differs in detail from that applicable to the British Service.