§ 1. Mr. CHARLES WHITEasked the Minister of Pensions whether, under Article 21 (1) (a) and Article 21 (1) (c) of the Royal Warrant, it has always been possible where a parent has been in receipt of a pension in consequence of the death of a son to have the pension transferred in the case of death of either parent to the surviving parent; whether it has now been decided that such transfer cannot be made; whether any Amendment to the Regulation or Royal Warrant has been made to this effect or is contemplated; and whether Parliament will have an opportunity of discussing the matter before this alteration becomes operative?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Macpherson)The Government decided, as my hon. Friend will remember, that while all existing pensions granted under the two paragraphs of the Article referred to should continue, all claims to pension 649 made, after due notice, on and after 1st April last should be dealt with on the basis of need under Article 21 (1) (b) of the Warrant. In a case such as my hon. Friend refers to, the surviving parent has the full right to claim and be awarded pension based on need, if such exists, and steps will be taken to see that no break occurs.
§ Mr. WHITEDoes it not say in the original Warrant that on the death of one parent payment may be transferred at once to the other. Is that altered, and have instructions been sent up to the pensions officers to this effect?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not quite sure. The fact now is that the two Subsections are sacrificed in order to bring the pensioner under Sub-section (b) instead of (1, a) and (1, c), and in most cases the pensioner is benefited.
§ Mr. WHITEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these instructions have been sent out, and that no public notice has been given of this in any Amendment of the Warrant, and that I hold in my hand the instructions sent out by the pensions officer?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONPerhaps the hon. Member will give me the information.