§ 1. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware of the dissatisfaction existing among disabled officers in the country owing to the recent reductions in their supplementary allowances; that in most cases these officers are unemployed and are ineligible both for health or unemployment insurance; that these allowances were recommended by a select committee and accepted by the Government at definite rates; will he inform the House on whose instructions the supplementary allowances were reduced; and will he restore the full rates during the period of their unemployment?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The suggestion that there has been a recent and general reduction in the supplementary allowances to disabled officers is unfounded. These allowances, which are for the benefit of the families of officers, and which are administered by the Special Grants Committee, had from the outset the discretionary nature common to all grants from that Committee. They are not, as suggested, at specific rates, but at such rate as may be thought necessary within specified maxima; moreover, they are temporary, and are subject to review from time to time according to the ascertained need of each case as arising from the disablement sustained. No instructions have been given to reduce the allowances, which, I repeat, are at the discretion of the Special Grants Committee. I should have no authority to adopt the suggestion made in the last part of this Question.
§ Mr. CROOKEWill my right hon. and gallant Friend let me know the personnel of the Special Grants Committee?
§ Major TRYONCertainly.