HC Deb 19 June 1918 vol 107 cc344-5
55. Sir MONTAGUE BARLOW

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that some 270 Members of this House of all parties have-given their names in support of the Motion on the Paper that pension administration should be kept free from the influence of political parties and have asked for a day for its discussion, he can now see his way, in accordance with his promise, to set aside a definite day for it?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I regret that I cannot yet name a day, but one will certainly be given,

56. Sir M. BARLOW

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that Government, Labour, and expert pension authorities in the United States have concurred in supporting the passing through Congress, on 6th October, 1917, of the War Risk Insurance Act, with the Object of placing the whole question of pensions or insurance for men killed or disabled in the European War on an entirely different footing from the previous American pension laws; whether he is aware that, by Section 312 of this law, the then existing pension laws are made not to apply to American soldiers and sailors fighting in the European War; and, seeing that this change was expressly made in order to avoid the political and other difficulties which arose in the administration of the American pension laws applicable to those who fell or were injured in the Civil or Spanish Wars, will he consider the advisability of taking action with the object of preventing such difficulties in this country?

Mr. BONAR LAW

I am afraid I can add nothing to my reply of the 16th May last on this subject, to which I would refer my hon. Friend.

64. Mr. T. WILSON

asked the Pensions Minister if he is aware that discharged soldiers who have to attend a medical board for the purpose of having their case reviewed and their pensions reassessed have, in many cases, to lose time and wages in so doing; whether under these circumstances he will, where time is lost, compensate these men for the wages they lose; and whether he will also allow them railway fares in cases where they have to travel over two miles to a medical board?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Hodge)

When a discharged soldier is called up for re-examination by a medical board he can now be given compensation for loss of remunerative time up to a limit of 1s. an hour or 10s. a day. Evidence must be furnished, by means of a certificate from the employer, as to the actual time lost and the rate of wages. Men called up for re-examination do not have to pay their own railway fares.