§ 37. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that William Robert Brand, 11/M/215,247, of Tottenham, who is permanently lame by gun-shot wound in the right heel, and is suffering from fibrosis of the lung through gas, and partial disablement of the right hand, is receiving a pension of 14s. per week; is he aware that Brand cannot obtain employment and is unable to get lodgings for this amount; that he is not eligible for unemployment benefit: that he has been refused admission to the workhouse on the ground that he is not destitute; that he is at present sleeping in a hay-barn; and whether he will take this case into immediate consideration, with a view to increasing the amount of Brand's pension?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)The life pension awarded in the case referred to corresponds to the degree of disablement by war service as determined by the Ministry and confirmed on appeal by the Assessment Appeal Tribunal. The Royal Pension Warrants provide for compensation in respect of disablement due to war service only, and they do not admit of being applied to make up for the inability of a pensioner to obtain either unemployment relief or Poor Law relief.