HC Deb 14 July 1966 vol 731 cc263-4W
100. Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 13 widows of naval ratings who have to pay for their orphan sons' education at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, lost their husbands during naval service and receive a war widows' pension; and how many lost their husbands after service and receive a normal widows' pension.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Five of these widows lost their husbands during Naval Service, and eight lost their husbands after Naval Service. Of the former, two have remarried, but one of these continues to receive a war pension in respect of her son; one is receiving a normal State widow's pension; the remaining two each receive both Forces Family and War widows' pensions. Of the latter, two have remarried; three receive normal State widows' pensions; one receives both Forces Family and normal State widows' pensions; one receives a Forces Family pension; and one receives a war widow's pension.

101. Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the number of children of school age of each of the 13 widows of naval ratings who have to pay for their orphan sons' education at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook; and how many of these widows receive other benefits from Greenwich Hospital or other naval funds.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Five of the 13 widows who contribute towards the cost of their sons' education at the Royal Hospital School have other children of school age:

I widow has 3 other children of school age;

2 widows each have 2 other children of school age;

2 widows each have 1 other child of school age.

None of these widows receives other benefits from Greenwich Hospital. Six have awards from public funds.

Commander Pursey

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many boys at the Royal Hospital School, Holbrook, are the sons of officers and ratings, respectively, in the Merchant Service, life-boatmen and fishermen; and how many are orphans, respectively.

Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu

Fourteen boys are the sons of Direct Entry Merchant Navy officers. Of these two are orphans.

Eleven boys are the sons of Merchant Navy ratings or promoted ratings. Of these one is an orphan.

One boy is the son of a fisherman. This boy is an orphan.

There are no sons in the School of life-boatmen drowned on service.