HC Deb 12 August 1919 vol 119 cc1097-9
64. Mr. RENDALL

asked the Pensions Minister why he declines to date back the special separation allowance to 6th November granted to the parents of a deceased soldier if they have failed to apply for it before 31st March; why he extended the date for application from 31st January to 31st March; why all such allowances cannot date from 6th November whenever they are applied for, having regard to the fact that the recipients are often old people unlikely to read or under stand the Press notices which he has given; and will he date back to 6th November the allowance granted to Mrs. H. Player, of Pye Corner, Hambrook, Bristol, the mother of the late Driver Leonard Player, No. R/4/067348, Royal Army Service Corps?

Sir J. CRAIG

My hon. Friend presumably refers to the special pension of 5s. a week granted to the parents of young unmarried soldiers. The general rule with regard to dependants' pensions, where no separation allowance has been in issue, is that payment runs from the date of application, but in the case of the special pension, which was only instituted last November, a period of grace was given to enable parents already eligible to inform themselves of their rights. This period, as extended to 31st March, is considered to have been ample, and my right hon. Friend does not propose to make any alteration in the present rule.

Mr. RENDALL

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a large number of persons to whom these pensions ought to be paid are very old and often very infirm, and have no opportunity of learning the Regulations of the Ministry; that, as a result, they do not become acquainted with them, and time goes on and they lose their rights; whereas the younger and more energetic people read the papers and get the information? Does the hon. Gentleman think these old people ought to be treated worse because they are infirm?

Sir J. CRAIG

I think the hon. Member has put the matter in an unfair way. The Ministry does all it possibly can to explain the rights under the Warrant, and if there is a delay in dealing with a matter it does not mean that it is more than a delay; it does not prejudice their rights to pension.

Mr. RENDALL

Does the hon. Gentle man realise that this lady if she had applied in time would have had the pension on. 6th November, but she only applied a month ago, and her pension is from the date she applied, and not from 6th November? Does the hon. Member think it is fair she should not get her pension as from 6th November because she did not apply owing to old age and ignorance?

Sir J. CRAIG

An arbitrary date must be fixed, and sometimes it does cause in convenience and hardship, and I am afraid I cannot get over it.

Mr. HOGGE

Is it not the case that the Minister of Pensions know the names of all these dependants, and that they owe them this money and have as much right to pay the money as they have to ask us to pay money to them in other ways?

Sir J. CRAIG

I do not think the hon. Member has put the case fairly. Those who are entitled to pensions are given as much notice as we possibly, can give, and in the case of applications every case in rotation is dealt with as rapidly as possible.