1. Mr. TREVELYAN THOMSONasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that many ex-service men and 2718 their dependants are unable themselves to adequately present their cases before the House of Lords Appeal Tribunal, and are unable to pay the expenses of any person to do this for them, he will consider the desirability of giving the appellants the same assistance as is provided for poor persons in actions in the High Court?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Frome on the 7th December last, of which I am sending him a copy.
Mr. THOMSONWill the hon. Gentleman take into account the fact that where local pensions committees out of private funds send someone to represent the appellant the appeals in those cases are much more successful than in cases where no assistance is given?
§ Major TRYONI am aware that certain bodies who select suitable cases for support get a better average of results, but those are selected cases.
Mr. THOMSONDoes that mean that the hon. and gallant Gentleman has closed his mind completely to pursuing the matter further?
2. Mr. THOMSONalso asked the Minister whether he has further considered the possibility of making provision for the re-hearing of appeal cases where some new circumstance has arisen or some new fact been disclosed which was not considered at the original appeal hearing?
§ Major TRYONI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for Newport on the 15th March, of which I am sending him a copy.