HC Deb 06 November 1918 vol 110 cc2085-6
87. Mr. COTTON

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been drawn to the hardship occasioned to widows and dependants of soldiers reported killed or missing by reason of the delay which takes place in the grant of the alternative pension after the cessation of the separation allowance or other allowances; and whether steps will be taken for the more expeditious consideration and settlement of claims for alternative pensions, so that such pensions may become payable concurrently with the ordinary pension?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The delays referred to are mainly caused by the difficulty experienced in verifying pre-war earnings, owing to the fact that many employed have never kept books or have destroyed those which they had. But if the widow applies immediately after notification of the death of her husband, the claim can be investigated during the twenty-six weeks' continuance of separation allowance. Failure to comply is generally due to ignorance, and steps have been and are being taken, by announcements in the Press, to make the provisions in regard to alternative pensions more widely known.

Mr. HOGGE

Why cannot the Ministry of Pensions, seeing that they have got twenty-six weeks during which the separation allowance runs, make the necessary investigation during that twenty-six weeks, so that the alternative pension will start at the close of the twenty-six weeks?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

That would mean that we should have to make investigations in every case, whether there was a prima facie case for an alternative pension or not, and it would involve a great deal of additional work for the staff.

Mr. HOGGE

I do not mean that. In cases where the widow applies immediately the husband is killed, cannot the Ministry do it in the twenty-six weeks that the separation allowance runs, so that the alternative pension would begin immediately in the twenty-seventh week?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

That is precisely what I have just said in another question. If the woman applied directly, we could and should make, and in fact we do make, investigations during the twenty-six weeks.