§ Captain Pluggeasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the case of a soldier 388W deceased as a result of war service, a pension is paid both to a separated wife and to an unmarried wife; and, if so, of what amount?
§ Sir W. WomersleyPension may, subject to the conditions laid down in the Royal Warrant, be paid in respect of a deceased soldier to his separated wife and to an unmarried dependant who had lived with him as his wife. The aggregate amount of the two pensions would not exceed the pension which would have been payable to his widow had she not been separated from him.
§ Mr. Glenvil Hallasked the Minister of Pensions whether provision will be made for the issue of a flat-rate pension of 5s. per week to a parent, irrespective of pre-war dependence, age, infirmity or pecuniary need, on the death of a son serving in the Forces who dies as a result of wounds, injuries or disease incurred while serving in the war, if the man was unmarried and no pension is otherwise being paid to or for a child or dependant?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI am not prepared to recommend a general flat rate pension for these cases. The basis of award of pensions to parents will be need, broadly interpreted as the reasonable expectation of what the son would have contributed had he lived, on the lines which I indicated in my answer to the hon. Member for the Deritend Division of Birmingham (Sir J. Smedley Crooke) on the 18th March last.