§ 6. Mr. NAYLORasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardships imposed upon certain pensioners who are not permitted, by the terms of Article 1,078 of the Royal Warrant, to commute a part of their pensions unless they are receiving more than 2s. per day; and whether he will consider the advisability of amending the terms of Article 1,078 so as to allow of the part commutation of pensions, where satisfactory reasons are shown, below 2s. and above 1s. per day?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for WAR (Major Attlee)I have been asked to reply. I do not think it would be in accordance with the permanent interests of the pensioners concerned to reduce their pensions to as little as 1s. a day in order to increase the capital sums paid them for commutation.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIs the Department carrying out the policy which has hitherto been carried out of Assenting sparingly to applications for commutation? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in many cases in which commutation has been granted it has turned out very ill indeed?
§ Major ATTLEEThe present practice is to look very closely into every application for commutation so as to see whether it would be a real benefit to the applicant.