§ Mr. Johnstonasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the pension paid to the widow of the late Sir Lee Stack was £E100,000; that the Government proposes to give a special grant of £5,000 to Sir Hughe Knatchbull-Hugessen, recently wounded in China; that the widow with three children of Mr. Andrews, the British official recently murdered in Palestine, has been awarded £P240 per annum, plus one year's pay; that the widow of a British constable murdered in Palestine is to receive £P24 per annum; and whether the Government is prepared to reconsider the disparities in its pension and gratuity payments to the relatives of men who have lost their lives in the public service?
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§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI understand that in fact the widow of the late Sir Lee Stack received a lump sum grant of £E40,000 from an indemnity paid by the Egyptian Government. The answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. The case of Mrs. Andrews is at present under consideration. I understand that under a recent amendment of the relevant Palestine Ordinance the pension of the constable's widow referred to has been doubled, and is now one-third of the constable's salary. Awards to dependants of civilian officers killed in the public service are regulated by the enactments of the country in which they are serving. I am not aware of any ground for a general revision of those enactments.