§ 19. Mr. A. SHORTasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that Private A. F. Titlow, No. 6582, 1st Norfolk Regiment, residing at 53, Ribston Road, Downall, Sheffield, is a victim of tuberculosis; that he is receiving a pension of 13s. 9d., plus 7s. l1d. for three children who all attend school; that he is unable to follow his employment; that Mrs. Titlow is now a victim of the disease; and whether he will cause his pension to be immediately increased and further expedite Private Titlow's application to be found work upon a poultry farm?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Sir L. Worthington-Evans)When examined by a medical board in April last, Private Titlow was found to be incapacitated to the extent of 50 per cent. No application for increase on his behalf has hitherto been received, but in the circumstances the local war pensions committee have been asked to have the soldier examined by their medical referee, and if he certifies that the disablement has increased from the original cause, the committee will at once issue recoverable advances pending the final decision of the Ministry. I have not been able to trace any application to the Ministry of Employment.
20. Captain COOTEasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that delays 579 in the Pensions Issue Office are as great as ever; and when the promised improvement may be expected?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe work at the Pensions Issue Office is not generally in arrear. There are now about 1,400,000 pensions in issue, and, of course, errors are made by individual clerks. The effort to prevent and correct errors is continuous.
Captain COOTEIs it not a fact that considerable delay has taken place between the sanction of the award and the actual issue of the pension? Will the hon. Gentleman remedy this delay?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am not aware that there is any delay generally. I am not suggesting that there is not delay in some individual cases. I do not think that there is any delay generally as suggested by my hon. Friend, but I will look into it.