§ Sir Smedley Crookeasked the Secretary of State for War if he will consider the advisability of devising a scheme under which, by means of special contri- 358W butions paid on behalf of men uninsured under State insurance schemes at time of enlistment, immediate benefits would be available in the event of death or disablement occurring during service, and before the normal qualifying number of contributions would have been paid, to ensure some provision in cases where death or disablement cannot be proved directly due to war service, and no award of war pension can be issued?
§ Captain MargessonLegislation already provides that a man who is not insured under the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Acts before commencing war service in the ranks of the Army, shall be compulsorily insured under those Acts during the continuance of such service. If a soldier's death or disablement occurs through causes not accepted as due to war service, and before sufficient contributions have been paid to secure to the man or his dependants benefits under the above Acts, the position of the man or his dependants would appear to be no worse than it would have been had he not entered the Army. It is not therefore considered that special provision for such cases should be made from Army Funds.