asked the Minister for Defence if he will arrange for payment of pensions to NCOs and other retired ranks on a weekly basis, and not on a monthly basis as at present.

The possibility of paying pensions granted under the Acts administered by my Department at more frequent intervals than monthly has been carefully and sympathetically examined on a number of occasions, but, in view of the heavy cost which would be involved in the provision of additional staff, I regret that the alteration would not be justified.