§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mrs. Jewitt, 14, Poplar Street, Chester-le-Street, who had been married for 18 years, recently lost her husband who died whilst he was receiving treatment as a result of war service, and that during the time of his treatment Mrs. Jewitt was receiving an allowance from the Ministry but is now refused a pension and has no other means of income; and whether he will take steps to amend the Royal Warrant to cover this and similar cases?
§ Mr. RamsbothamMrs. Jewitt was not married until some two years after her husband's discharge from Army service. The Royal Pensions Warrants which have been approved by Parliament do not admit liability for pension in respect of family obligations incurred after the man's discharge from service, and I am not prepared to recommend a departure from this principle. The grant of family allowances during a special course of treatment is governed by different conditions from those applicable to the award of pension.
§ Mr. Hopkinasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the coroner's verdict that the death of David John, of Login Whitland, 857W was due to war service; that John saw active service from February, 1916, to September, 1919, and at the time of his death received 7s. 6d. a week pension, and that this ex-soldier's widow and seven children have applied unsuccessfully for continuance of the pension to them; and will he reconsider this decision with a view to helping this ex-service man's widow?
§ Mr. RamsbothamNo application for pension has been made to my Department on behalf of Mr. John's family, presumably because it is understood that any such application is precluded by the fact that the late soldier married two years after his discharge. I am informed, however, that pension of 27s. a week is being issued under the Contributory Pensions Act.