§ 5. Mr. HAYESasked the Minister of Pensions whether a person summoned to appear before a local war pensions complaints committee is entitled to be accompanied by a solicitor or a friend; and, if so, whether this is a Ministry of Pensions' instruction or within the discretion of the local committee?
§ Major TRYONIt is not the function of a war pensions committee to adjudicate upon complaints, but to investigate them. Representation of a complainant by another person would not, therefore, ordinarily be appropriate to the committee's procedure, and no provision has been made for it in the Regulations. Where, in exceptional circumstances, however, a committee desired to hear information from another source in regard to a complainant's case, it would be within their discretion to do so.
§ Mr. HAYESMay I ask whether the right hon. Gentleman will consider the issuing of an instruction that a person who has to attend a complaints' committee may be accompanied by a friend?
§ Major TRYONI think, if the hon. Gentleman reads my answer, he will see that that is a matter which we leave to the discretion of the committee.