§ 4. Mr. J. GUESTasked the Minister of Pensions who is responsible for the appointment of the War Pensions Entitlement Committees; if he will give the names of those persons at present serving thereon; and the number of cases dealt with by such Committees during the 12 months ending 31st January, 1922, together with the number of cases dealt with in which the Committee decided that entitlement was not proven?
§ Major TRYONMy hon. Friend appears to be under some misapprehension. There are no such bodies as War Pensions Entitlement Committees. Questions of entitlement are dealt with by experienced officers of the Ministry, against whose decision there is, as my hon. Friend knows, a full right of appeal to an independent tribunal.
§ Mr. GUESTAm I to understand that there are no Committees dealing with this matter, except the permanent or paid officials of the Ministry?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member is to understand that there are no such bodies as the Committees to which he refers in his question.
§ Mr. GUESTMay I have a definite assurance that, whatever the name may be, there are no Committees dealing with this work?
§ Major TRYONThose Committees do not exist. The officials of the Ministry deal with these cases, and if the pensioner is not satisfied, he has a full right of appeal to the Pensions Tribunal.
§ Mr. ROYCEIs the hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that there is a great and growing amount of dissatisfaction in reference to the decisions that have been given by the Appeal Tribunals?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.