§ 17. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why the revised pension of 9s. 9d. a week, granted several months ago to the father of the late Private F. Shaw, Scottish Rifles, has not been paid, though repeated applications have been made by the pensioner and the local war pensions committee; and will he have immediate inquiry made into the case and the reason for the delay and instructions issued for the immediate payment of the pension?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)I much regret that, owing to a miscarriage of papers, the necessary authority to issue this pension, which was awarded in November last, was never received by the Pension Issue Office. A duplicate authority has now been sent, with instructions to issue the pension, with arrears, immediately. I am inquiring why the letters calling attention to the delay were not properly dealt with.
§ 16. Mr. SNOWDENasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office why dependency allowance has not been paid to the mother of Private Heyes, Loyal North 141 Lancashire Regiment, who joined the Army on 29th April; and will he, in view of the delay and hardship resulting there from to his mother, see that the case is settled at once?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Forster)I am informed that the claim was paid with arrears on the 3rd. The soldier's mother is also in receipt of separation allowance in respect of her husband, and the settlement of the son's claim necessitated correspondence with another pay office, which caused some delay.
18. Sir F. HALLasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office if old non-commissioned officers and soldiers who rejoined the Colours during the South African War for one year received an addition of 1d. a day to their pension in consideration of their doing so; whether, in similar cases where ex-non-commissioned officers and soldiers rejoined during the present War, he will have their pensions increased in respect of such period of further service; and, if so, on what basis?
§ Mr. FORSTERPensioners who re-enlisted for a year during the South African War had the alternative of drawing either the bounty payable to other men or their pension. The year's service counted towards increase of pension. At that time re-enlisted pensioners did not continue to draw pension except in special cases. During the present War pensions have been drawn during service on the definite understanding that they would not be increased for the re-enlisted service, and the pensioners get the bounty as well.
§ 27. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Pensions Minister whether, in cases where a discharged man is dissatisfied with the amount of pension or gratuity granted by the Ministry, local committees are called upon to investigate and report; whether for this purpose Army Form B 179 is sent down by the Ministry without the signature of the doctors who have examined the man or any other authentication whatever; and whether the Ministry will in future take steps to show that the forms sent to the local committees are authentic?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe hon. Member is no doubt alluding to the procedure whereby a man who is appealing against a decision that his disability is not due to or aggravated by service is 142 examined before the sub-committee of the local war pension committees. For the purpose of this examination a copy of Army Form B 179, the document on which the man is discharged from the Army, is sent down by the Ministry. By arrangementment with the Army Council, these copies do not include the signatures of the medical officers who examined the man. They are, however, sent with a covering note from this Department, and should be accepted as authentic, but to avoid any possible question it has been arranged that in future they shall be stamped as correct copies of the entries in the original document.
§ 28. Mr. PRINGLEasked the Pensions Minister whether discharged men are now being refused pensions on the ground that their disability was not caused or aggravated by war service and that they were not efficiently examined by the approving officer at the time of attestation; and, if so, whether he can state the number of discharged soldiers who have been refused pensions for this reason?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENUnder the Royal Warrants men have always been refused pensions if their disability was not caused or aggravated by service. They are given in lieu gratuities or allowances under Article 7. The question of efficient examination by the approving officer at the time of attestation does not arise. The number of discharged men who have been awarded gratuities or allowances on the ground of non-attributability is approximately 81,000.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say what right the Minister of Pensions has to send down to a local war pensions committee when they are awarding a gratuity on the ground of non-attributability a certificate which says that the man when admitted to the Army was not correctly examined and his disability diagnosed by the medical board which put him into the Army?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI am not aware that that is so.
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThe document sent is A.F.B. 179, on which the man is discharged from the Army.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs the hon. Gentleman aware that forms have actually been sent to local pensions committees, in which, in lieu of the statement referred to, the 143 statement is made that the man's disability is not due to service, but that he was insufficiently examined by the approving officer at the time of his attestation?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENThat point does not really affect the question. On the contrary, if he has been insufficiently examined it is to his advantage, because if any disability be possessed at the time he entered was not noted, it is far more likely to be decided that his present disablement is due to service.
§ Mr. HOGGECan the hon. Gentleman say what service can be rendered by the statement referred to, seeing that if it were not given the man would then be eligible for an ordinary pension?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENHe would not be eligible for an ordinary pension unless it had been decided by the Ministry that his disability was due to service or had been aggravated by service.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put his question on the Paper.
§ Mr. PRINGLEI beg to give notice that I will raise this subject on the Adjournment to-night.