§ 64. Mr. MAXTONasked the Minister of Pensions the number of cases in which applications for pensions have been rejected under the time limit by local area officials without reference to headquarters; and, if not, whether he will instruct these officials to keep a record of all such cases during the present year?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYIt is not the practice of the Department to keep a record of applications of this or of any other kind in which, for one reason or another, the Ministry are unable to take action, and my right hon. Friend would not he justified in requiring this additional record to be kept.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs it not important that we should know how many persons are applying for pensions, and how many are being rejected under the seven years' limit, seeing that no figures are available either local or national?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYIf any man comes forward and applies for a pension and he gives no proof that his injury was due to war service, of course his application is rejected; but, if he can bring forward any proof at all that his injury is attributable to war service, his case will be taken up and looked into.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not a fact that a large majority of the applications never get beyond the local office?