§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty what is the operative date of the pre-1917 basic rate of long service pension for able seamen of 10d. a day for 22 years' service; and what is the approximate number of these pensions still being paid.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThe pre-1917 basic rate of long service pension for able seamen of 10d. a day for 22 years' service was applicable to men entering the Royal Navy on or after the 1st January, 1885. It is not possible to say how many of these pensions are still being paid without making an examination of each of about 62,000 pension cases.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an able seaman long service pensioner, aged 54 years, is drawing only £1 2s. 9d. per week pension, after 25 years' service; how many similar cases there are; and whether any further sums can be paid to them from charitable or service funds for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThis appears to be a case where the pension was awarded under the 1919 Code and the pensioner has not yet qualified by age for the award of pensions increase. It would not be possible to say how many similar cases there are without making118W an examination of each of same 62,000 pension cases. In the normal way this pensioner will be entitled to an age addition of 2s. 11d. a week when he reaches the age of 55. He will also be eligible for increases under the 1944–47, 1952, 1956 and 1959 pensions increase schemes when he is 60. Exceptionally, however, if he becomes permanently incapacitated from working, pensions increase can be awarded at once. He, like any other naval pensioner, is eligible for consideration for the award of a special pension from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, awarded according to the degree of need and the applicant's medical category.
§ Commander Purseyasked the Civil Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that an ex-colour-sergeant Royal Marines long service pensioner, aged 56 years, is drawing a pension, for 21 years' service, of 1½ a day pension per year of service, one penny for each of three good conduct badges, two pennies for the good conduct medal, one penny for 21 years' good conduct, 22 halfpennies for sergeant's time, eight farthings for corporal's time and five pennies age 55 increase, total £1 12s. 5d. per week; how many similar cases there are; and whether any further sums can be paid to them from charitable or service funds for which he is responsible.
§ Mr. C. Ian Orr-EwingThis appears to be a case where the pension was awarded under the 1919 Code and the pensioner has not yet qualified by age for the award of pensions increase. It could not be a pension awarded under any later Code, although the pensioner may have chosen to take it in preference to a pension under the 1945 Code. It would not be possible to say how many similar cases there are without making an examination of each of some 62,000 pension cases. In the normal way this pensioner will not be eligible for any increase of his pension from naval funds until he reaches the age of 60. He will then be eligible for increases under the 1944–47, 1952, 1956 and 1959 pensions increase schemes. Exceptionally, however, if he becomes permanently incapacitated from working, pensions increase can be awarded at once. He, like any other naval pensioner, is eligible for consideration for the award of a special 119W pension from the funds of Greenwich Hospital, awarded according to the degree of need and the applicant's medical category.