8. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Pensions whether in all cases where a pension is re-issued under the dispensing warrant of 1884 it is necessary for him to submit the case to the Treasury before the pension can be issued; and, if so, in view of the delay involved and the hardship entailed on the pensioner during the waiting period, sometimes as long as three months, he will take steps to secure for the Ministry of Pensions full authority to issue pensions under the dispensing warrant when, in the opinion of his advisers, it is found that a pension should be reissued?
§ Major TRYONA grant under the instrument referred to can only be made with the concurrence of the Treasury, but 2558 arrangements have been made which obviate any delay from this cause. Careful investigation into cases is, however, in any event necessary, and on occasion this must inevitably involve some delay. I have, however, taken steps to expedite the procedure as far as possible.