§ 66. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and uncertainty existing amongst pensioners: and whether, so as to place Members of Parliament in a position to explain the real situation to pensioners, he will give instructions that each Member shall be supplied on application with all warrants. copies of all regulations, instructions to pension committees, medical boards investigation officers and assessors and all others having authority to deal with penions and allowances, including any instructions sent out where the recipients are bound to secrecy under the Official Secrets Act?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I am glad to say that the information in the possession of the Minister does not confirm the description of the state of mind existing among pensioners which my hon. Friend suggests. I would remind him that there already exists a complete local machinery from which pensioners and claimants to pension can obtain full information and assistance. Moreover, it is the statutory duty of the new War Pensions Committee to hear and investigate complaints. My right hon. Friend thinks that the Royal Warrants, Regulations. Committees' Handbook and other publications already available to Members contain all the information that is necessary for my hon. Friend's purpose.
§ Mr. WHITECan the Pensions Handbook, Investigation Officers' Instructions, Instructions to Medical Boards and Assessors, be placed in the hands of members on application, and are there 1229 any instructions sent to anybody in authority to deal with pensions which come under the Official Secrets Act?
§ Major TRYONI shall be glad if my hon. Friend will put down that further point. He will see—
§ Major TRYONThen I shall be glad if he will put it down again.