HC Deb 02 April 1919 vol 114 cc1170-1
89. Mr. A. WILLIAMS

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to a letter to him from the hon. Member for the Consett Division, dated 20th February, 1919; whether five weeks later, namely, on the 27th March, a communication was sent from his Minis try saying, that that letter had been for warded to the Superintendent of the Pensions Issue Office; and will he say for what reason it takes five weeks to for ward a letter from one branch of his Ministry to another?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)

The facts stated in the question have not enabled me to trace this matter. Perhaps the hon. Member will give me the name and regimental particulars of the man on whose behalf he wrote.

90. Mr. A. WILLIAMS

asked the Pensions Minister whether his attention has been called to the case of Joseph Ward. No. 250069. 6th Durham Light Infantry, about which the hon. Member for Consett wrote to the then Pensions Minister on the 6th December last; whether he is aware that the hon. Member for Consett reminded him on the 22nd January, in a letter which was acknowledged on the 24th February, saying that the appeal was in the hands of the local committee; and what are the reasons why it takes nearly four months to deal with a matter of this sort?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

I regret the exceptional delay in dealing with this case, for which, however, the Department was not wholly responsible. A letter has now been written to the hon. Member announcing the satisfactory settlement of the case.