§ 70. Mr. E. BROWNasked the Minister of Health the number of claimants for widows' pensions up to 30th June, 1927, whose claims have been disallowed and the principal reasons for such disallowment; and the total number of claims received and allowed?
§ Sir K. WOODIt is desirable to distinguish between rejections of claims made by the widows of men who died before the commencement of the Act and those made by the widows of men who died thereafter. Up to the 30th June, 1927, there were 48,172 rejections in the former category and 9,912 in the latter. The principal reasons for rejection were, in the case of the former, (1) that there was no child of the qualified age, and (2) that the husband did not belong to the insurable class; and, in the case of the latter, (1) that the husband was not an insured person at the date of his death, and (2) that the required number of contributions 233 had not been paid by or in respect of him. The total number of claims of both types was 275,856, of which 210,801 were allowed up to the 30th June last.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIs the hon. Gentleman aware that there are still cases outstanding in which application was sent in in March of this year, and can he say why a decision has not been reached in those cases?
§ Sir K. WOODNo, Sir; if any cases have been under consideration for some time it is because insufficient particulars have been supplied, or similar difficulties.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the hon. Gentleman say what reduction in Poor Law relief has taken place?
§ Sir K. WOODThat is a different question altogether.
§ Mr. HARRISCan the hon. Gentleman say whether the number of claims allowed exceeds the estimate, or is less than the estimate?
§ Sir K. WOODI should like notice of that question.