§ 20. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that the present practice with regard to the payment of the 20 per cent. bonus recently granted on pensions is unsatisfactory, and that in many cases no payment of this bonus is made until a new draft book is issued, which book may in some cases not be issued until months after the date when the bonus first became payable; and whether he will in such cases authorise the local war pensions committees to advance the amount of the bonus, or make other arrangements to meet such cases?
§ Sir J. CRAIGFor administrative reasons it has been found necessary to spread the payment of bonus over a period of three months by dealing with each case as it comesup, in the ordinary course, for renewal of the book of thirteen weekly payments. This revision of cases is now nearly complete. The local committees were instructed in December last that exceptional cases of hardship brought to their notice where payment of the arrears was urgently needed should be notified 1110 to Pensions Issue Office, so that steps could be taken to deal with them specially. In no circumstances will any person eligible for the bonus fail to obtain it with full arrears.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERDo I understand that in these urgent cases the Pensions Committee will be authorised to make advances if a person is entitled to a bonus?
§ Sir J. CRAIGCertainly.