14. Major NEWMANasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether he will say what funds or powers are at the disposal of local war pensions committees to render assistance to ex-Service men who may be in need of help, and who apply to them for temporary assistance?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)I have been asked to reply to this question. Local war pensions committees are empowered to make a grant, not exceeding £5, to a disabled man to meet expenses not provided by the Royal Warrant incidental to his taking up employment. Apart from this provision the financial assistance which local committees can give lies in the direction of recoverable advances where for any reason there has been delay or break in payment of pension or where the pension is found to be inadequate to the degree of disablement.
Major NEWMANDoes that mean that the local war pensions committee cannot temporarily increase pensions in cases of urgent necessity?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENNo; they have no power to do that. If they think a pension is insufficient, having regard to the degree of disablement, the man can be sent to a medical referee, and if he assesses that the pension should be higher they can advance to the man.
Major NEWMANIn the case of an ordinary pensioner, not a disabled man, can they increase a small pension if necessary?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENWe have nothing to do with cases of Service pensions, but only with disablement pensions.