§ 18. Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEasked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-service men holding wounds or disability pensions who have disappeared and no longer draw their pensions, but of whom no actual death certificate has ever been received?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I regret that the records of the Ministry do not enable this information to be given, but it is believed that the number is very small.
§ Mr. SOMERVILLEIn the event of such disappearance, have the relatives any claim on the pension accruing?
§ Major TRYONThat depends on the relationship, and on the circumstances. Of course, if it were a wife we should know of her existence, and the matter would be taken up. But an unmarried pensioned man might get killed in an accident, and of his disappearance we should know nothing except that the pension had been discontinued.