§ 57. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Pensions Minister whether, in view of the fact that a statutory right to pension has now been conceded and new tribunals unconnected with the Ministry of Pensions are being set up to deal with claims, an opportunity will be given for the rehearing of appeals disallowed by the Appeals Tribunal under the judisdiction of the Ministry, as in many cases great hardship has resulted from the decision of the tribunal in question?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Sir James Craig)The class of case to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers is specifically excluded from the right of further appeal by the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919, and the reasons for its exclusion were explained in the Debate which preceded the passing of that Act.
I may inform my hon. and gallant Friend that the Appeal Tribunals set up under the Ministry were not subjected to any interference by this Department, and only differed from the present tribunals in that their decisions were not legally binding on the Minister, although almost invariably accepted by him.