asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he is now in a position to state the proposals of the Admiralty in regard to the provision of pensions for the dependants of men of the Royal Navy who lost their lives as a result of their service, especially in those cases in which it can be proved that such men were making regular allotments to their dependants?

The question of the conditions governing the award of pensions to the parents of seamen and marines whose deaths are directly attributable to the conditions of service has been carefully reviewed in conjunction with the other Service Departments and the Ministry of Pensions, but the Departments are unable to recommend any alteration in the existing Regulations, common to all three Services. As regards the latter part of the question, account is necessarily taken of allowances made by the men to their dependants, but this is not the only factor to be taken into consideration.

Are to understand from that that a man who loses his life through an act of gallantry, and who is making an allotment to his dependants, is not to be allowed any pension at all?

No, my hon. Friend will understand that the ordinary Service Regulations apply in that as in every other case, and we follow the same rule as applies to military pensions.

Is the Department acting in the same mean fashion as the Department of my hon. Friend who asks the question—the Pensions Department?

May I ask for your protection, Sir? Is it in order for an hon. Member to address offensive remarks of that nature to another hon. Member who is not in a position to protect himself?

It was quite an irregular interposition. The hon. Member who asked the question had no official position.