§ 3. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the multiplicity of forms which war pensioners are required to fill up, his Department will devise methods of procedure which will allow as many as possible of them to be dispensed with?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member has, I think, been misinformed. A pensioner is not required, for the purpose of drawing his pension, to fill up more than two forms in a year, with one extra form once in five years, and these forms are solely for the purpose of establishing his continued existence and identity as the recipient of a grant from public funds.
§ Sir R. THOMASIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware from his own experience that the men who have to fill up these forms are bewildered by them?
§ Major TRYONNo, I aware that any man, if he has a bona fide right to a pension, would be bewildered by them.
§ Sir R. THOMASWill the right hon. Gentleman allow me to send him some examples?
§ Major TRYONCertainly, but the hon. Member must not forget that it was at the express desire of the Public Accounts Committee of this House, and in order to secure the public funds, that these very necessary forms were sent out. They are so designed as to offer no difficulty to anybody except the dishonest person.