§ 30. Mr. A. J. BENNETTasked the Minister of Pensions how many pension awards, other than those for actual disablement, have now been made permanent; whether there are any awards of over eight years' standing still subject to revision; and whether finality of fixation can at least be reached in those cases?
§ Major TRYONI am not quite clear what the hon. Member means by the term "actual disablement," but I may inform him that permanent awards of pension have been made in approximately 33,500 cases of disease and 120,500 cases of wounds and injuries. I am not aware that there is any case of eight years' standing still on conditional pension, but if there be such it probably is because the man is progressively growing worse, and it would be contrary to his interest to make a final award. It is the practice to consider every case with a view to a final award not later than four years after the first award of pension, and only those which are found to be unsuitable for a final award are still subject to revision.
§ Captain Viscount CURZONWill the right hon. Gentleman give us any sort of idea as to what percentage the figures bear to the whole number of cases before him for review?
§ Major TRYONThe number of pensioners is something under 800,000. The hon. and gallant Member can work it out. It is our policy to push on with final awards, but some of the final awards are being set aside by the tribunal owing to men appealing against our giving final awards.