§ 17. Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions when the next meeting of the Central Advisory Committee will be held; and if he will ask the Committee's opinion on the desirability of decentralising the issue of pensions to the local area offices?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYIt is my right hon. Friend's intention to summon another meeting of his Central Advisory 599 Committee at an early date, but that date has not yet been fixed. My right hon. Friend does not propose to ask the opinion of the Advisory Committee on the subject mentioned in the last part of the question. The decentralisation of the payment of pensions is an issue of policy which must clearly be determined by the Minister with full knowledge of the many grave administrative and financial factors involved.