HC Deb 07 December 1937 vol 330 cc194-6
40. Mr. Short

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for pensions have been received and dealt with under the special arrangements for dealing with applications made more than seven years after the termination of the War; and how many have been granted?

The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)

During the year ended 31st October last, 2,874 applications, nearly half of which were made by existing or former pensioners, were received for fresh disabilities claimed to be due to war service. Of these 490 were established and accepted for pension or treatment.

41. Mr. Smedley Crooke

asked the Minister of Pensions what progress he has made in carrying out his undertaking that he would take steps to collaborate with the Ministry of Health in dealing with the hardship of cases where widows of disabled ex-service men failed to obtain widows' pensions under the Royal Warrant because their husbands did not die from the disability for which the pension was granted, and subsequently were refused widows' pensions under the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Pensions Act because their husbands, owing to war disability, were not in insurable occupations?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I have, in concert with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health, instituted arrangements between my Department and the Ministry of Health which ensures that all possible assistance obtainable from the information in the possession of the Ministry is given to widows of disabled ex-service men who may have a title to pension under the contributory pensions scheme. These arrangements are working satisfactorily.

42. Mr. Kirby

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will recommend a change in the statutory regulations to permit of the commutation of life disability pensions of less than 16s. per week, such commutation in the case of small pensions being more urgent and desirable than is the case with pensions of 16s. upwards?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I am satisfied from experience that the requirements of the present statutory regulations, which secure uniformity of practice between the Ministry of Pensions and the Service Departments, preserve to the pensioner the minimum pension which should be left uncommuted.

Mr. Kirby

Is the Minister aware that many of these men who are receiving small pensions are included in the class known as "prematurely aged" and that they have to go to the Public Assistance Committee; and will he reconsider his answer?

Mr. Ramsbotham

Experience shows that it is seldom that the commutation of the pension works out to the advantage of the pensioner.

43. Mr. Smedley Crooke

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider the advisability of obtaining powers to revise the Royal Warrant in order to meet the cases of distress of ex-service men who originally had a disability pension, which was afterwards withdrawn, who now, suffering from their War disability, apply at employment exchanges for suitable work, are sent to be medically examined and are found incapable of work, are subsequently refused unemployment benefit, not being fit men, and have to obtain relief from the Public Assistance Board?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The basic principle of compensation for War disablement, approved by the House, is the award of like pension or grant for all disablements of like degree. I could not, consistently with this principle, agree to modify the pension in individual cases to meet difficulties in obtaining employment in this or that particular occupation. It is not the practice, as my hon. Friend suggests, for employment exchanges to send men for medical examinations. Where ill-health is the cause of a man's inability to obtain employment, the case would usually be dealt with, so far as necessary, either by the social services under the control of the Ministry of Health or by my Department, according to circumstances.

Mr. Smedley Crooke

If I bring a case before my hon. Friend, will he make inquiries?

Mr. Ramsbotham

Certainly, I am always glad to have any case which the hon. Member cares to bring before me.

Mr. Stephen

Inasmuch as the principle is causing some hardship, does not the hon. Gentleman think the time has come when there ought to be a revision of it?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The House of Commons considered the principle in 1917 and substituted another principle which was a sound one.