asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty the maximum income that admits a naval warrant officer's widow to a full Royal Warrant pension of £35 a year.

Mr. Dugdale:

The income limits governing the award of ordinary pensions to naval officers' widows are confidential, and I regret that I am, therefore, unable to give the hon. and gallant Member the information he desires. I may add that the system of widows' pensions for all officers of the three Services is now under consideration by the Inter-Service Committee which has been reviewing the codes of pay and pensions for officers and other ranks of the three Services, and any changes decided upon will be announced in due course.

Could the Parliamentary Secretary say whether he considers that a warrant officer's widow is able to live on £35 a year?

Mr. Dugdale:

That is quite another question.

Could my hon. Friend give any indication when the result of the deliberations of the Departmental Committee will become known?

Mr. Dugdale:

No, Sir I hope it will not be long.