HC Deb 11 February 1926 vol 191 cc1206-7
11. Mr. J. DAVISON

asked the Minister of Pensions whether it is his intention to deprive ex-service men of the right to direct representation on the Central Advisory Council; and, if so, if he will say for what reason this is to be done?

Major TRYON

There is no such intention. Representation of ex-service men on the Central Advisory Committee is provided for by the provisions of Section 3 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, under which the Committee is constituted, and will be secured in the same manner as heretofore.

13. Mr. D. GRAHAM

asked the Minister of Pensions the composition of the new Central Advisory Council; whether it is proposed that all the War Pensions Committees are to be directly represented; or, if not, how he proposes to allocate the representation so as to secure that co-ordination that is presumed by the Ministry to be desirable and necessary?

Major TRYON

The Central Advisory Committee is, as required by Section 3 of the War Pensions Act, 1921, composed of representatives of War Pensions Committees, of ex-service men and officials of the Ministry, central and local. In order to secure its practical efficiency as an advisory body, its membership has been strictly limited in point of numbers both by myself and my predecessors. To give each of the 169 War Pensions Committees a representative on the Central Committee would enlarge the Committee beyond all practical limits, but in appointing representatives of War Pensions Committees I am having regard not only to the importance of securing representatives of areas of all types, including London (which had no direct representative under the arrangements which have now been superseded), but also to the primary purpose, which I indicated to the House on the 17th December last, of securing the advice and assistance of persons acquainted by direct knowledge and experience as active members of the War Pensions Committees, with various branches of the work of my Department affecting pensions.

Mr. SPENCER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has accepted the recommendations, or given effect to the recommendations, of these advisory councils at any time?

Mr. SPEAKER

I think that hardly arises out of the answer.