HC Deb 12 May 1930 vol 238 cc1451-2
51. Sir A. POWNALL

asked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of claims for pension outside the seven-years' limit that have been submitted since November, 1929, and rejected; and how many are still under consideration?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. F. O. Roberts)

Out of 11,400 fresh applications received during the period from November to the end of April, rather more than 5,000 are still under consideration. Some 318 cases have been accepted during the same period either for treatment or pecuniary compensation. In the remaining cases, the Ministry have been unable on the information before them to find the claims substantiated.

Sir A. POWNALL

Is it the case—the answer was very hard to catch—that only 300 of these claims have been accepted and that 6,000 have been refused? Is that a summary of the reply?

Mr. ROBERTS

That is so.

Major COLVILLE

Hew does the right hon. Gentleman reconcile that with the pledge given by the Labour party that the seven-years' limit would be abolished?

Mr. ROBERTS

We removed the limit in order that these cases might be considered, and the fact that we have received 11,400 applications, which have been or are now under consideration, goes to prove the truth of that statement.

Mr. ERNEST BROWN

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if in any of the cases which have been put forward there are instances where the recipients of the pension had no statutory right?

Mr. ROBERTS

That depends upon the interpretation of statutory rights.

Mr. BROWN

May I put this further question. If a new award is given and no statutory right applies in that case, have his dependants, supposing the man dies, no right of appeal to any tribunal?

Mr. ROBERTS

That comes under a different Regulation, and I should be glad to have notice of that question.

Mr. MARJORIBANKS

May I ask whether a widow has not to prove that her husband died wholly as the result of war service, and is not that absolutely impossible after seven years?

Mr. ROBERTS

No, Sir. Under Article 17 (b), the death must have been due wholly to war service, but under Article 17 (a) pension may be granted if death was materially accelerated by war service.