8. Dr. MURRAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether cases have occurred in which women, on applying for pensions on the ground that they have been deprived of the support of a male relative killed in the War, have been called upon to undergo medical examination in order that their fitness to go out to work might be tested; and, if so, whether he will give instructions for this procedure to be discontinued?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. Friend probably has in mind those pensions to dependants which are under the Royal Warrant conditional upon the existence of incapacity of self-support through infirmity or age. Where the evidence on this point is open to doubt it is the practice to ask for a medical certificate, which is ordinarily given by the applicant's usual medical attendant. I do not consider that this procedure entails any hardship or calls for revision.
Dr. MURRAYIn the case of a mother whose son contributed to the family exchequer, and has been killed, is the policy of the Department to see that this woman is medically examined and certified as fit for work?
§ Mr MACPHERSONMy hon. Friend is misinterpreting the answer which I gave. There is no desire on the part of the Ministry of Pensions to produce hardship, but in a case where a woman is able to do work, my hon. Friend will agree that it would be right that we should ask whether she is fit to do work or not. The appropriate way to do that is to ask for a certificate from her own family attendant.
Dr. MURRAYBut is the giving of the pension dependent on the capacity of the woman to work? If she is certified as fit for work, she gets no pension?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf dependent on the man who is killed she gets the grant irrespectively.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut surely it is not the policy of the Department to force out to work widows of soldiers killed in the War? Surely the intention is that they should get a pension for their comfort, and not be forced out to work?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is no question of forcing out to work. Of course, in the case of a young woman, it is not hardship to ask her to do work, and give her a pension which is appropriate; but if she is quite unable to do work we are anxious to get a certificate, not from our medical officer, but her own medical officer.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it the policy—