§ 32. Sir JOHN BUTCHERasked the President of the Local Government Board whether he will take steps to secure that in Grants made by the Civil Liabilities Committee, as in the ease of allowances made by the Pensions Ministry, the date 1st January, 1918, shall be substituted for 1st January, 1916, for the purpose of estimating the pre-enlistment income?
Mr. FISHERThe Regulation of the Ministry of Pensions to which my hon. Friend refers is adapted to the case of the weekly wage-earner whose wages would as a rule have risen during the War. The application of a similar rule to the case of a professional or business man such as would be dealt with by the Civil Liabilities Committee would not generally be to his advantage. On the other hand it is the regular practice of the Advisory Committee to take into account the date of enlistment and to secure that the men who joined early are at least as favourably treated as those who joined later.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERDo not these civil liabilities men consist in very large numbers of cases of working men as well as professional men, and in that case is there any reason for the distinction between the pension rate and the civil liabilities rate?
Mr. FISHERThey undoubtedly do consist very largely of cases of working men. Those cases could be considered by the local war pensions committee, and I am inclined to think the local war pensions committee would take into consideration the cases mentioned, but on that even, perhaps, my hon. and learned Friend will address me another question?
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIf it is found that local war pensions committees have not power to apply the pension rate to these civil liabilities men, will the right hon. Gentleman use his influence with the Treasury to ensure that it can be done?