HC Deb 31 January 1929 vol 224 cc1123-4
23. Sir THOMAS WATTS

asked the Minister of Health if his attention has been called to Leaflet W.P.4 (revised), which has been issued from local post offices to claimants for widows' and orphans' pensions, the wording of which in paragraph 1 is quite unintelligible: and, in view of the fact that 150,000 of them have been printed, will he take steps to have this leaflet withdrawn?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

The facts are that a printer's error was made in part of the copies when this circular was being finally printed off. Most of the incorrect copies were destroyed but a small number, probably not more than 20,000, got into circulation. All practicable steps have been taken to recall them.

Sir T. WATTS

In view of the fact that this document was headed "Leaflet W.P.4 (revised)," will the right hon. Gentleman say who is responsible for the revision?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Perhaps my hon. Friend did not attend to my answer. It was not in the revision that the error occurred, but it was an error in printing.

26. Commander SOUTHBY

asked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. James Arthur Pritchard, who was a self-employed iron bedstead maker and continuously insured as a voluntary contributor from July, 1912 to July, 1926, since which date, through failure of business, he has been unable to keep up his voluntary contributions; whether he is aware that this man attained the age of 65 on the 11th August, 1928, and has been refused an old age pension on the grounds that he had not been continuously insured for five years immediately prior to that date; and whether, observing that this man paid contributions for 13 years, he will inquire whether some steps can be taken to grant him a pension?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

Mr. Pritchard, having failed to pay any contributions after 6th July, 1925, ceased to be an insured person for the purposes of the Contributory Pensions Act on 30th June, 1927, and accordingly on 11th August, 3928, when he reached the age of 65, he did not satisfy the conditions of Section 7 (1) (b) and Section 8 (a) and his claim was rejected. The Referees upheld the rejection of his claim on appeal and as their decision is, by the Act, made final and conclusive I have no power to take any action in the matter.