HC Deb 15 March 1922 vol 151 cc2189-91
66. Mr. J. GUEST

asked the Attorney-General the number of entitlement cases dealt with by the Final Appeals Tribunal, sitting at Leeds, for the six months ending 28th February, 1922, together with a statement showing the number of such cases which have been rejected during that period?

The ATTORNEY - GENERAL (Sir Ernest Pollock)

I must refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave yesterday to a similar question addressed to me by the hon. Member for Working-ton. I cannot undertake to give the figures asked for, for the reasons stated in that answer.

Mr. GUEST

Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the reply he gave yesterday is no answer at all, and that the fact that the Ministry are refusing to give these particulars is strengthening the belief in the country that these Appeal Tribunals are not doing their work in a fair fashion?

Sir E. POLLOCK

No, Sir; I am not aware that the answer I gave is no answer, and I think that the hon. Gentleman himself would deprecate having any such question put to him as a justice of the peace—and the same applies to his colleagues—over the area for which he is a justice.

Mr. GUEST

There is no analogy!

67. The hon. Member further asked what qualifications are required to fit an ex-service man for service on the final Appeals Tribunal; and by what method of selection they are called upon for this work?

Sir E. POLLOCK

The schedule to the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1919, provides that the service member of a Pensions Appeal Tribunal shall be a disabled officer who has retired or been demobilised from His Majesty's Forces during the present War while suffering impairment; or a disabled man who has similarly been discharged or demobilised. I am informed that an ex-officer member adjudicates only in appeals made by disabled officers, their widows and dependants, and that an ex-non-commissioned officer or man adjudicates in appeals made by disablel non-commissioned officers and men, their widows and dependants. The schedule to the Act provides that the appointments shall be made by the Lord Chancellor. I am told that members are selected from waiting lists of applicants who have applied direct to the Lord Chancellor, or whose names have been submitted to the Lord Chancellor by the Joint Substitution Board (Treasury and Ministry of Labour) or other body.

Mr. GUEST

Would the Minister be prepared to give consideration to nominations or suggestions from ex-service men's associations?

Sir E. POLLOCK

I cannot answer that question.

Major M. WOOD

Are these men appointed permanently or for individual cases?

Sir E. POLLOCK

I think they are appointed to hear a succession of cases over a period of time.