§ 84. Mr. W. GRAHAMasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received representations on behalf of the widows and dependants of soldiers and sailors in Scotland and elsewhere and on behalf of discharged and disabled men on pension drawing attention to the great increase in the cost of living; whether, under Section 24a of the Royal Warrant of 6th December, 1919, there can be no readjustment of pension in respect of the cost of living before April, 1923; whether this places such dependants and others at a great disadvantage compared with industrial workers, who have the benefit of changes in a sliding scale based on the cost of living at much earlier dates; and whether, in view of the hardship now endured by many dependants, he is prepared to take steps to make provision for increase in the cost of living by pension and other allowances on more generous lines?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I must refer my hon. Friend to the reply which the Leader of the House gave to the hon. Member for the Western Division of Derbyshire on the 16th June, of which I am sending him a copy.