§ 40. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state the number of widows who have lost their pensions because the deaths of their husbands took place more than seven years after their Army discharge; and whether he proposes to abolish the seven-years limit?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The hon. Member is, I think, under a misapprehension. The widow of 1159 a pensioner would not be refused on the ground stated as her case is expressly provided for under the Royal Warrant of 14th January, 1924. No amendment of the Royal Warrant is in contemplation.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf I send the right hon. and gallant Gentleman a case where the widow has lost her pension on this ground, will he consider it?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member sent me a case and it was not rejected under the seven-years limit. If he has any other case, I shall be happy to go into it.
§ Mr. MACLEANIn the case I sent the right hon. and gallant Gentleman, the date of the dead man's final discharge is still under dispute.
§ Mr. BUCHANANSeeing that the Prime Minister gave a pledge in 1929 that he would abolish the seven-years limit, could not the Government undertake to carry out the pledge?
§ Major TRYONThe seven-years limit was abolished by the Conservative Government in 1924 for all pensioners' widows. In these circumstances, a promise given in 1929 to abolish it would not be operative, as it had already been done.