§ Lord APSLEYasked the Minister of Pensions in how many cases of pensioners who received 100 per cent. pensions within the last two years the Ministry does not accept full responsibility for the disability; and what is the policy of the Ministry in considering the applications of the widows of such men for pensions in the event of the men dying from the disability for which they received the 100 per cent. pension?
§ Major TRYONI regret that I have no record as to the numbers of the class of case which my Noble Friend has in view, but I understand that they would be very few. A widow's claim to pension depends on the extent, if any, to which her husband's death has been caused or materially hastened by the effects of his war service. There must be a few cases of ailment or disease which have been aggravated only, but not caused by war service, in which the one-time aggravation, such as it was, cannot medically be certified to have played any material part in hastening death, and in such cases the widow would not be eligible for an award of pension.
§ Mr. CROOM-JOHNSONasked the Secretary of State for War under what regulations the list of persons qualified to attest formal documents relating to Army pensions is laid down; and whether, in view of the difficulties that are frequently experienced in obtaining the attestation by persons on such list, he will consider adding district, borough, and county councillors thereto?
§ Major ELLIOTThe persons by whom declarations relating to Army pensions may be attested are those named in a Warrant issued by the Treasury under the816W Authority of the Appropriation Act on the 25th September, 1923, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The list is already very long and comprehensive, and I can see no justification for the considerable expense on the amendment of pension forms which would be involved by a further expansion.