§ 39. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the Minister of Pensions if he will give further consideration to- the application of Mrs. 26 E. Plant, of 10, Elm Avenue, Yarborough Road, Grimsby, the widow of the late Company-Sergeant-Major A. L. Plant, Cheshire Regiment, for an increase of pension; if he is aware that the late Company-Sergeant-Major Plant applied for a pension in May, 1922; was examined by the Pension Ministry's medical officer on 3rd July, 1922, and died on 5th July, 1922; and that an appeal was lodged in August, 1922, and the widow was informed that, as death had occurred before the appeal could be heard, the claim could not be considered?
Mr. ROBERTSMrs. Plant is already in receipt of pension on the alternative pension scale, which takes full account of her husband's pre-war earnings; and as this is the maximum scale admissible under the Warrant no increase of the pension is admissible.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYCan I have at answer to the latter part of my question respecting the man's appeal, which could not take place because he died two days before it could be heard?
Mr. ROBERTSMy information is that the man died before a decision could be arrived at; therefore, there was no opportunity of lodging an appeal.
§ Mr. WOMERSLEYHas the widow to suffer simply because her husband died two or three days before the appeal could be heard? [HON. MEMBERS: "Answer;"] May I ask the right hon. Gentleman to take this and many other similar cases into consideration when he is bringing in his amending Bill to deal with pensions?
Mr. ROBERTSYes, I am willing to-take any point into consideration which will be for the benefit of those who are suffering; but I am informed that this case has been fully considered, and the widow has been awarded a proper pension under the warrants.
§ Mr. LEESIn dealing with these cases, was the right hon. Gentleman dealing with the law as it then existed?