asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the widow of a commissioned officer killed on duty receives, in addition to pension, a gratuity, whereas the widow of an able-seaman killed in action receives a pension only; and whether he will take steps, with due regard to the difference in service rank, to secure equality of treatment in this respect?

The fact that the compensation awarded to the widows of other ranks killed in action is wholly in the form of pension does not mean that they are treated unequally as compared with the widows of commissioned officers killed in action whose compensation is by long tradition divided between pension and gratuity.