§ 9. Mr. BARKERasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that certain pensioners living at Abertillery have been put to the expense of obtaining from Somerset House copies of their dependants' birth certificates when they have already presented certificates granted by the local registrar; that Samuel Griffiths, of 8, Lancaster Street, Six Bells, Monmouthshire, late of the 10th South Wales Borderers, has been compelled to pay 14s. 4d. for four birth certificates before he could receive his pension; and will he see that this pensioner and many others get these fees refunded?
§ Major TRYONAs it rests necessarily with the claimant for allowances under Article 6 of the Royal Warrant to show that members of his family in respect of whom the claim is made are eligible, adequate evidence is required. The registration certificate of the local registrar does not contain the necessary information and in accordance with the long-standing practice of the Ministry the 2090 evidence of the birth certificate is required. There were no special circumstances in the case referred to which would have enabled this practice to be dispensed with, and I am not, therefore, in a position to adopt the suggestion in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. BARKERWill the right hon. Gentleman take steps to modify these Regulations? Seeing that a certificate is presented from the registrar, is it not most unfair that this pensioner should have to pay 14s. 4d. for four certificates?
§ Major TRYONThis sum was due to the considerable number of certificates required. I cannot agree with a departure from the practice which has prevailed invariably in the same circumstances. I may tell the hon. Member that we paid this man in the form of allowances £4 7s. 6d. a week for the children and himself.