§ 8. Mr. JAMES BROWNasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is prepared to grant discretionary powers to tribunals, under Article 11 of the Royal Warrant, in such a case as the following: Thomas McGowan, late No. 3/3,708, Black Watch, who on 11th April, 1915, was wounded in the spine by gunshot, which wound caused paralysis and complete loss of control below the waist, and who, since his discharge on 26th October, 1915, has been nursed constantly by his wife; and whether, seeing that the wife 1178 will suffer grievous hardship by being refused a pension if Mr. McGowan survives beyond 11th April, 1922, he will, in the event of him not being able to grant discretionary power, bring in a Measure to amend Article 11, so as to avoid hardship in such a case as cited above?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI have no authority to deal with the Pension Appeal Tribunals in the manner suggested. I shall, however, be prepared to consider specially, on its merits, any concrete case in which hardship can be shown to have resulted from the operation of the time limit in Article 11 of the Royal Warrant.