§ 52. Mr. NEWBOULDasked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the dissatisfaction amongst ex-service men in regard to the working of the Statutory Pension Appeal Tribunal appointed by the Lord Chancellor, both as to decisions and delay, he will see that the terms of reference to the Committee appointed to inquire into the administration and machinery of the Ministry of Pensions are wide enough to include these tribunals?
§ The PRIME MINISTERI do not agree with the statement in the first part of the hon. Member's question. I am informed that the tribunals are now hearing about 400 cases a week, and the number of complaints received by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, Central Office, House of Lords, as to the decisions is very small, less than one per cent. The average time which elapses between the date when the appeal reaches the headquarters office of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal and the date of hearing is about one month.
§ Mr. NEWBOULDWill the right hon. Gentleman answer the first part of the question, whether the inquiry will be large enough to include the Appeal Tribunal appointed by the Lord Chancellor?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThat is a tribunal which is outside the scope of the Ministry of Pensions. It is an independent Court set up so that it might be independent of the action of the Ministry of Pensions. If it were subject to the Ministry of Pensions, that would be a complete contravention of the spirit and letter of the Act of Parliament.
§ Mr. NEWBOULDDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think that an inquiry which excludes an important section of the administration of pensions must be incomplete and unsatisfactory, particularly as there are a large number of complaints in regard to this final appeal Tribunal?
§ The PRIME MINISTERThe inquiry would be an inquiry into the action of a Tribunal set up by Parliament.
§ Mr. NEWBOULDI beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment to-night.