§ 71. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Pensions whether pensions payable to British ex-service men now resident in the Colonies, or other countries, receive the equivalent of the exchange value of the pound sterling?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)Pensions granted under the Royal Warrants are in terms of sterling and payment is made in sterling or its equivalent. Where payment of the full equivalent of sterling in local currency is not made on the normal pay-day arrangements have been, or are being, made with the authorities concerned to effect any necessary adjustment.
§ 72. Mr. LUNNasked the Minister of Pensions the number of over-seven-year applications received by the Ministry up to 31st December, 1931; the number to whom pensions have been awarded; the number that have received limited compensation or treatment; and the number of applications received from widows for pensions on the ground that the death of the husband was due to war service and whose claims were first rejected by the Ministry as not coming under the Royal Warrant of 1924, as the deceased was not in receipt of pension or treatment allowances at death, but have since been granted under special sanction?
§ Major TRYONI have no complete record of the number of new applications, but about 27,000 were received during the two years ended 31st December, 1931. Between 1926 and 31st December, 1931, about 1,700 were admitted to pension and about 700 to other forms of pecuniary grant, while about 600 were found to require only treatment, which was provided. Up to December, 1931, awards were made under special sanction to 120 widows of men who were not in receipt of pension or treatment allowances at death, but I am unable to say how many of these applications had previously been rejected.