§ 28. Major COHENasked the Minister of Pensions the number of complaints which have been made to the local war pensions committees by men whose claims have been rejected under the over seven years scheme; the number of cases that have been recommended by the committees for further consideration; the 1728 number of cases in which the original decision has been confirmed; and, of this number, how many were referred to the medical experts for advice?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. F. O. Roberts)War pensions committees had, up to the end of June, dealt with 519 cases, of which they found themselves unable to support 190, while they have referred 329 to the Ministry, either with a specific recommendation or a suggestion for further inquiry. The majority of these cases have been received in the last few weeks only. Investigation and correspondence with the applicant, with the war pensions committees themselves and otherwise, has been necessary in the great majority of cases, in order, in the interests of the men, to elicit as complete evidence as possible on the cases. Of the cases in which investigation had been completed by the end of June, the fresh evidence obtained was sufficient to enable a grant of compensation to be made in five cases, while the original decision of the Ministry was confirmed in 33 cases. The decision in the last named cases was in accordance with the advice of the independent medical consultants.
§ 29. Major COHENasked the Minister of Pensions the number of first claims for pension submitted to his Department under the new procedure dealing with over seven years' claims that have been rejected; and whether, in every such case the applicant has been notified of his right to complain to the local war pensions committee?
§ Mr. ROBERTSSome 11,000 applications have, during the last 7½ months, failed to furnish evidence justifying a grant; but of these only about half were literally first claims, the remainder being applications from men who had previously been awarded compensation for some other disability. Applicants are now in all cases being informed that they may submit any further evidence to the Ministry. The right of complaint to war pensions committees is well known and acted upon, and in all cases where inquiry is made applicants are directed how to proceed.
§ Mr. McSHANEWould it not be possible still for the right hon. Gentleman to allow a medical referee on behalf 1729 of the applicant to state the case against the medical authority of the Ministry of Pensions?
§ Mr. ROBERTSI am afraid I could not answer that on this question.