§ 12. Mr. STANLEY JOHNSONasked the Pensions Minister whether he will take steps to secure that any pension awarded to dependants of a deceased soldier on the basis of loss to dependants of assistance from future earnings of such deceased soldier shall be payable from the date of the death of the soldier instead of from the date of application for the pension?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSWhere actual dependence has been established isthe lifetime of the soldier and separation allowance is in issue, pension follows automatically as from the date when separation allowances ceases. Where separation allowance has not been paid application for pension is necessary, and as the amount of the pension is based largely on the pecuniary need of the applicant, it would not be practicable to grant arrears, which would in many cases involve an investigation into the applicant's past circumstances extending over a considerable period.