§ 1. Mr. BATEYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that thousands of ex-service men who are still suffering from war service have for various reasons had their pensions cut off, the same applying to dependants of soldiers lost in the War, and whether he will consider appointing a Committee to hear complaints and with full powers to deal with them?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Roberts)I fear that I should have no authority to adopt this suggestion. I would remind my hon. Friend that independent appeal tribunals have been constituted by Parliament to deal with Questions, both of disputed title to pension and of the amount of pension where a final award is made, and this provision, coupled with the powers possessed by the Minister for dealing with cases in which resort to the statutory appeal tribunal is not available, should, in my opinion, prove adequate to deal with cases of the kind contemplated by my hon. Friend. With regard to dependants, facilities have been given for complaints against reduction of pensions to be entertained, and, in addition, I may perhaps remind my hon. Friend that the scheme of pensions for parents based on need has been substantially improved.
§ Mr. BATEYIs the Minister aware that the present machinery is totally unsatisfactory, and that there is need for the setting up of new machinery?
§ Mr. BUCHANANArising out of that part of the answer which deals with 288 dependants' pensions, is the Minister aware that the parent or dependant gets no chance to appear and state the case; that the evidence on which a pension has been reduced is never produced at the hearing, and that the pension is reduced without the parent or dependant having any say in the matter?
§ Mr. ROBERTSNo, Sir. I am not aware of it, but I will look into the facts as stated by my hon. Friends.