71. Miss LEEasked the Secretary of State for War if his attention has been called to the case of Mr. John Hunter, of Longriggend, Lanarkshire, who has produced conclusive evidence that he is over 65 years of age, yet is refused consideration for the special campaign pension on the ground that he has not attained the age of 65 years according to his Army documents; and will he inquire further into this case?
§ Mr. SHAWI have already been in correspondence with my hon. Friend about this case. The age given by a recruit on his first attestation is accepted as his correct age throughout his Army career for various purposes, including the assessment of his pension, and I regret that I am unable to reverse the decision already reached.
Miss LEEWill the right hon. Gentleman keep in mind that many old people, especially of the working-class, do not know their exact age; that this man gave his age in this statement to the best 403 of his knowledge and that he has now produced his birth certificate, showing that he is over 65?
§ Mr. SHAWI am quite aware of those facts. I am also aware of the fact that in, probably, nine cases out of ten, the age as stated is higher than the real age and consequently the benefit goes to the soldier.