§ 98. Mr. LOWTHasked the Minister of Pensions whether letters sent by ex-officers to the officers' friend branch asking for advice are treated as confidential, or whether they are included in the Ministry of Pensions case paper, and, if necessary, used as evidence to refute a claim for pension?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThis branch of the Ministry was constituted to give guidance and advice to officers and their dependants in regard to pension matters, in order that the fullest information necessary to a just conclusion may be available both to the Ministry and to the Appeal Tribunals. The information furnished to the branch is generally of the greatest assistance to the Ministry and the Appeal Tribunal in establishing the case, for a claimant. It would clearly be irregular that any material information duly received in the branch should be ignored or suppressed, whatever its purport.