HC Deb 17 February 1921 vol 138 cc235-6
1. Mr. RENDALL

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has published or will publish statistics tabulating pension cases and showing the numbers of pensions increased and decreased per annum and the reasons for the alterations made, the number of cases in which medical boards are overruled by the awards branch, the number of pensions stopped, and the number of claims unsuccessfully made for pensions?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Macpherson)

During the six months ending 31st January, 1921, 525,000 men were re-examined by medical boards, for renewal or termination of pension, with the following results:

Pensions increased 42,600
Pensions unaltered 248,650
Pensions reduced 193,850
Pensions terminated but gratuities awarded 25,000
No further award 13,900
During the same period 84,000 first claims were considered, and in 60,000 of these cases pension or gratuity was awarded. In reply to the second part of the question I may inform my hon. Friend that the percentage degree of disablement, on which the amount of pension is based, is in all cases determined by medical boards, whose opinion cannot be overruled by any official of this Ministry.