§ 4. Mr. HURDasked the Minister of Pensions if the powers given to him under Section 2 of the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919, to require information from employers for the purpose of ascertaining the pre-War earnings of a disabled soldier, were intended to insure that a disabled soldier should not suffer financial loss through his disability; and, if so, why Private Frederick Burgess, No. 205,173, Royal West Kents, is allowed a pension of only 12s. per week, seeing that a gunshot wound in his right hand prevents him from following his employment as a warper at a minimum wage of 66s. per week, and he has consequently had to accept light work from his pre-War employers at 40s. per week?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Macpherson)The object of the powers conferred on me by the Section quoted is to assist an applicant to establish his claim to alternative pension. In the particular case mentioned the man is in receipt of a flat rate pension and there is no record of an application for alternative pension having been made by him.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMost certainly.