11. Mr. ALFRED DAVIESasked the Pensions Minister how many disability pensions are at present being paid to disabled soldiers and sailors; how many widows of deceased soldiers and sailors are in receipt of pensions; how many applications by disabled men for alternative pensions have been made and how many granted; and the number of widows of deceased sailors and soldiers who have applied for alternative pensions and how many granted?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Sir Laming Worthington-Evans)The number of men in receipt of pensions (excluding gratuities) on 30th June, 1919, was 799,180, and of widows of deceased men 216,890. At that date 9,722 applications for alternative pensions had been received from disabled men. Of the men so applying, 3,883 were awarded pensions and 4,637 were refused, and 1,202 cases were then under inquiry; 37,245 widows applied for alternative pensions, and 21,687 obtained them. There were 10,273 rejections, and 5,465 cases were then under inquiry. I should add that a large number of alternative pensions granted to men are temporary awards which lapse as the man's earning capacity increases. The number of alternative pensions to men now being paid is, approximately, 1,000.