asked the Minister for Defence if he will introduce proposals for legislation to amend the Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Acts to enable the claims of unsuccessful applicants under these Acts to be re-examined.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Connaught Rangers (Pensions) Acts.
The Minister does not propose to introduce amending legislation on the lines suggested by the Deputy.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary state why it is not proposed to introduce such amending legislation?
I cannot interpret the Minister's mind, but I should like to say that there was ample opportunity and it was a comparatively easy task to establish a claim for a pension under these Acts. The qualifications were comparatively simple. To qualify for such a pension it was necessary for the applicant to have been a member of the 1st battalion of the Connaught Rangers, to have joined in the mutiny and to have been sentenced by the general courtmartial to death or to a sentence of imprisonment for any period not less than 12 months. Every applicant had ample opportunity to apply and it was a comparatively simple thing to establish a claim.
Will the Parliamentary Secretary not agree that in cases where Connaught Rangers were sentenced by courtmartial to imprisonment for a period of less than 12 months and were dismissed from the British Army, forfeiting any rights they had to pensions or otherwise, and where these men were later unemployed and in distress, there should be some consideration given to them?