§ 1. Mr. C. WHITEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the dissatisfaction and uncertainty existing amongst pensioners; and whether, so as to place Members of Parliament in a position to explain the real situation to pensioners, he will give instructions that each Member shall be supplied, on application, with all warrants, copies of all regulations, instructions to pension committees, medical boards, investigation officers and assessors, and all others having authority to deal with pensions and allowances, including the pensions handbook, investigation officer's instructions, instructions to medical boards and assessors, and also a copy of any instructions sent to anybody in authority dealing with pensions by which they are bound to secrecy under the Official Secrets Act?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I beg to refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to him on the 12th July. In view of the Official Secrets Act, and the normal practice of all Government Departments, my right hon. Friend is not prepared to adopt the hon. Member's suggestion. It has been erroneously stated that we are issuing secret instructions militating against the interests of the pensioner. I would remind him that, after a most searching inquiry, the Departmental Committee, comprising Members of this House, representatives of the ex-service organisations, and members of local war pensions' committees, placed on record their unanimous finding that no instructions, secret or otherwise, had been given or issued by the Ministry which would have the effect of inducing medical boards to depart from the established and well-known standard of assessment.
§ Mr. WHITEAre no instructions whatever sent out to any authorities under the Official Secrets Act at the present time?
§ Major TRYONIt is perfectly obvious that there are instructions—and I should have thought my hon. Friend would have understood it—instructions issued in regard to the cases of pensioners, which cannot be published broadcast.
§ Mr. WHITEMay I further ask whether the provisions of Royal Warrants are not being continually altered without any change in the Regulations?
§ Major TRYONThe Royal Warrant stands as it is; any change that is made is made in public.
§ Mr. WHITEDoes my hon. and gallant Friend say that no alterations have taken place outside the Regulations within the past fortnight without the Regulations being altered at all?
§ Major TRYONMy hon. Friend is getting on to a different point. If the Royal Warrants are altered the matter is published so that anyone can see it.