§ 64. Mr. Turtonasked the Minister of Defence in how many instances the £75 annuity to holders of the Victoria Cross is being reduced by the amount of a disability pension which is being paid.
§ Mr. SandysUnder regulations made in 1856, other ranks who are awarded the Victoria Cross are entitled to receive an annuity of £10 a year and to an addition of 6d. a day to a Service pension. As a result of various Pensions Increase measures, this sum of £10 has now become nearly £20. Officers have no entitlement either to an annuity or to an addition to pension.
Under the regulations as revised in 1920, officers and other ranks who hold the Victoria Cross and who are unable through age or infirmity to earn a livelihood, may be paid a special annuity of an amount which, together with any non-contributory public pension or annuity (including any disability pension), shall not exceed a total of £75 a year. Thus, a man's entitlement to the special annuity is reduced by his disability pension in cases where he is drawing not more than £75 a year from some other non-contributory public source. For this reason it is not easy to give a precise figure in reply to my right hon. Friend.
As the House knows, the Prime Minister said yesterday that he proposed to have the general position of holders of the Victoria Cross reviewed.