HC Deb 08 June 1937 vol 324 cc1575-7
41. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of applications for increased pensions during the year ended 31st March, 1937, and the number of cases in which awards favourable to the applicant were made?

The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)

The number of cases in which pensions were increased during the year in question was about 2,300. The records of my Department do not enable me to give the number of applications, but I may say that in a majority of the cases the increases were made by the Ministry of its own motion, and not as the result of application.

Mr. Lawson

Why cannot the hon. Gentleman give us the applications? That should not be difficult when he can give us the increases?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The reason is that applications are made in many forms, apart from direct representations to the Ministry, as for instance, by letters to Members of Parliament, letters to area officers, personal calls, and so forth; and to give the figures asked for would entail a great deal of labour and expense, and I do not see what useful purpose would be served.

Mr. Mabane

Do the figures include dependants' pensions, and could my hon. Friend give the figures separately?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I should be glad if my hon. Friend would put that question down.

Mr. Godfrey Nicholson

Could my hon. Friend give some indication of the rough proportion of those accepted to those refused?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I am afraid that I could not, for the reasons I have stated.

42. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Pensions when Part II of his report will be published?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The preparation of this portion of the report is well advanced, and I hope to be able to present it at an early date?

Mr. Lawson

What is "an early date"? Is the hon. Gentleman aware that the House was promised it 12 months ago?

Mr. Ramsbotham

This is the part of the report which involves a historical survey of the Ministry's activities from the beginning. While I cannot give a definite promise, I hope that it will be ready before the House rises.

Mr. Lawson

Cannot the hon. Member let us have the report rather sooner, as there is a desire in the House to survey the pensions question generally, and it is necessary to have this report for such a discussion?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I will do my best to expedite it.

43. Mr. Lawson

asked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for new pensions were made during the year ended 31st March, 1937; how many were granted; and the number in which no pension was awarded?

Mr. Ramsbotham

New claims in respect of disablement or death to the number of 5,248 were received in the course of the financial year ended in March last. Of these the Ministry were able to recognise 1,417 by way of pension or in other form appropriate to the circumstances of the cases.

Mr. Logan

Can the Minister state the number of disablement cases in which at death, pensions have been refused to the widow?

44. Mr. Gallacher

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the rise in retail prices, it is proposed to raise the sums payable to those ex-Service men granted stabilised 100 per cent. War pensions?

Mr. Ramsbotham

So far as War pensions are concerned, the basis of any comparison in respect of the cost of living must be the year 1919, when the present rates were fixed. Although it was then provided that the rates should be subject to reduction on a fall in the cost of living, no such reduction has been made in spite of the very substantial fall in the cost of living from the level of 1919. The decision of 1928 to waive any future reduction has secured to pensioners a continuing benefit amounting to many millions of pounds as compared with the provisions of the Royal Warrant of 1919.

Mr. Gallacher

Is the Minister not aware that since 1920, or within the past two years, at any rate, prices have been steadily going up, and that this causes a great hardship to many of these pensioners? Speculations as to what may be done do not help, and, therefore, will he not take into consideration the actual hardship that is being suffered, and increase the pensions?

Mr. Ramsbotham

I would remind the hon. Member that when pensions were originally fixed the cost of living, taking the 1914 figure as 100, was 215, and that it is now 152. The original figure was fixed in 1919.

Mr. Gallacher

Is it not the case that pensions were stabilised not in 1919 but in 1928, and that since then prices have gone up?

63. Mr. Kelly

asked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-Service men under treatment in mental hospitals in this country for whose maintenance his Department is responsible?

Mr. Ramsbotham

The number of officers, nurses and other ranks for whose treatment in mental institutions my Department was responsible at end of May, 1937, was 5,770.