§ 64. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Pensions the number of claims submitted outside the seven years for the period 1st January to 31st December, 1932; the number of such claims admitted; and the total number of claims that have been admitted outside the seven years' time limit?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The number of applications received during the period referred to was 4,847, and the number recognised was 361, including cases which required no more than medical or surgical treatment. The aggregate number of late applications which have at any time in past years been recognised was up to the end of December last 3,393.
§ Mr. BUCHANANCan the Minister of Pensions say how many of the 361 cases have actually been granted a pension?
§ Major TRYONNot without notice. If the hon. Member will, give me notice, I can give him the figures.
§ 65. Mr. CROOKEasked the Minister of Pensions if, in view of the fact that the recent death of Field-Marshal Sir William Robertson was attributable to War service and that the late Earl Haig's death was certified as having, been also caused by War strain, in both cases the complaint not showing itself until considerably over the seven years during which an ex-service man can submit a claim for a disability pension, he will now take steps to repeal Section 5 of the War Pensions Act of 1921 and do away entirely with the time limit?
§ Major TRYONNo, Sir. As my hon. Friend is well aware, arrangements have been for some years in operation by which belated applications for compensation in respect of War disablement can be made and dealt with.
§ Mr. CROOKEIn view of the fact that the present cost to the country of War pensions is considerably less than it was a few years ago, will the right hon. 1594 and gallant Gentleman give further consideration to the matter?
§ Major TRYONI cannot undertake to give further consideration to this question because it has been fully considered by the present Government. It can only be dealt with by legislation or administration. When the seven years period began to operate the last Conservative Government—I was the Minister responsible— made administrative arrangements which enabled pensions to be granted. When the Labour Government came in they went into the matter afresh and decided that it was the best way to deal with the matter. We are continuing the same arrangement.
§ Mr. BUCHANANHas there been any alteration in the administrative arrangements either for improving or worsening them, or are they just the same as they were under the late Government?
§ Major TRYONThey are exactly the same. We are doing all that we can to get the cases settled as quickly as possible, but there is no change whatever in principle.
§ Colonel CLIFTON BROWNIs it not the case that the British Legion are not pressing any claims under the seven years limit?
§ Major TRYONWe are getting very few claims from anywhere, as is only natural so many years after the War.
§ Mr. CROOKEIt is not the case as stated by my hon. Friend; the British Legion advocates all the year round the abolition of the seven years time limit?
§ Major TRYONThe answer I gave was to the question as to whether they were putting forward many cases.
§ 66. Mr. JOHNSTONEasked the Minister of Pensions whether his Department will undertake a further medical examination of Mr. Albert Killen, of 11, Earsdon Terrace, South Shields, with a view to his now being granted a disability pension?
§ Major TRYONAs I have explained to my hon. Friend in correspondence, this case has several times been the subject of most careful review both by myself and by my predecessor, and on no occasion has any ground been discovered for questioning the correctness of the 1595 decision given in 1921 by the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal, that Mr. Ellen's unfortunate condition is not the result of his war service. I regret, therefore, that the case is not one in which I can do anything further.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONEIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that no examination has been made on behalf of his Department since 1923, and that since that date an independent medical man has given the opinion that the man's disability is due to war service?
§ Major TRYONThe man's position was examined very carefully during the time of my predecessor, and very high medical advice was obtained, and I have myself gone into the matter again, but the decision of the Tribunal is final, and I regret to say that it must stand.
§ Mr. JOHNSTONEWill my right hon. Friend answer the first supplementary question whether he is aware that this man has not in fact been examined by his Department or the officers of his Department since 1923, and that the examinations to which the right hon. Gentleman has referred are only examinations on the old papers?
§ Major TRYONI know that my hon. Friend has taken a great interest in this subject. He has communicated with me and I have dealt with it, and considered it, and given my answer to him. It is not a question of this man's health at the moment, but whether his disability is due to war service.