HC Deb 26 March 1925 vol 182 cc594-5
3. Mr. STEPHEN

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will consider the introduction of legislation to amend the War Pensions Act, 1921, so as to allow a man to lodge a claim to pension at a date outside the seven years' limit from the termination of the man's effective service, when his disability has resulted from the man's service?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)

My right hon. Friend has seen no evidence sufficient to justify the suggestion that the time limit referred to, which was embodied in the War Pensions Act of 1921 after the fullest consideration and in accordance with medical advice, should be removed. I may add that steps have been taken to give the widest possible publicity to this statutory requirement.

Mr. STEPHEN

Is it not the case that the Ministry is getting hundreds of thousands of complaints in connection with this period of seven years?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

No, Sir. I cannot uphold that view; we are not getting many complaints.

Lieut. - Colonel WATTS - MORGAN

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman represent to his Chief the desirability of appointing a Select Committee to make an inquiry into all the complaints already lodged?

Mr. BECKETT

Are there not many disabilities, such as heart trouble, which do not show when a man is young, but show at a later age?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

That was why the period was put at seven years, because it was considered by the Medical Advisers to the Ministry that any such complaint would show itself within the limit of seven years. That was why that time was appointed. In all pension systems there is a time limit, and in most of them, so far as I can see, there is a much less generous time than seven years.

Lieut. - Colonel WATTS - MORGAN

Will the hon. and gallant Gentleman reply to my question. Will he represent to the Minister of Pensions the desirability of having a Select Committee appointed to make inquiry?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

My right hon. Friend has already replied to that; there is, too, a question on the Paper later to-day.

Mr. STEPHEN

Will the Minister inform me if there is any way in which, where the disability is shown to be connected with the man's service, that that roan can have treatment and a pension considered?

Lieut.-Colonel STANLEY

The hon. Member knows that the Regulations are rather complicated, and I should not like to answer offhand. But I will give him information on that point if he puts down a question.