§ 4. Mr. HANNON (on behalf of Captain BOWYER)asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship caused to disabled men by Section 5 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, whereby no disabled man is entitled to receive a pension unless a claim is submitted within seven years from the discharge; and does he propose to take steps to remove this hardship?
Mr. ROBERTSThe effect of the Section referred to, which, however, cannot operate to any material extent until 1926, will be carefully considered.
§ 5. Mr. HANNON (on behalf of Captain BOWYER)asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship caused to certain widows and dependants by the wording of Article 17b of the Royal Warrant of January, 1924, inasmuch as widows of men who died more than seven years from their first removal from duty and who were not actually receiving a pension at the time of their death are ineligible for pension; and what steps he proposes to take to remedy this injustice?
Mr. ROBERTSThe liability of the State for compensation in respect of death was defined after prolonged consideration in the Royal Warrant to which the hon. and gallant Member refers, and the concession then made in respect of widows has now been extended at my instance to dependent parents. Until further experience has been gained of the working of the existing provisions, 1525 I am not prepared to agree that the further modification suggested by the question is desirable.