§ 28. Mr. CHORLTONasked the Minister of Pensions whether any changes or reductions in War pensions have been made to account for the marked fall in the Estimates of his Department?
§ 29. Mr. LEES-JONESasked the Minister of Pensions if he will give the reasons for the large reduction in the Ministry of Pensions Estimates?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)No reductions have been made in War pensions rates. Nor has any alteration been made in the principles of administration. Apart from administrative economies which do not affect the pensioner the reductions shown in the Estimates for the coming year arise from an over-estimate of the Ministry's expenditure in the current year, and from normal causes such as death, the remarriage of widows, and children outgrowing the pensionable age. Incidentally, also, there is one less pay-day for 12 men during the coming financial year owing to an accident of the calendar, which in itself accounts for a reduction of about £400,000.
§ Mr. CHORLTONWill the right hon. and gallant Gentleman take steps to see that all concerned in that locality are advised of this statement, because there is considerable disturbance there following the publication of statements in a journal?
§ Major TRYONI would ask the hon. Gentleman to let me know to which particular matter he is referring and which locality.
§ Mr. LEES-JONESIs there any truth in the statement which has been made recently that the economy "axe" has fallen on 2,000 War widows?
§ Major TRYONNo, Sir, that figure is simply the estimate of the diminution in the pension list which may be expected in the course of the next 12 months based on the remarriage or death of widows.