§ 40. Major Milnerasked the Minister of Pensions whether instructions are issued to investigating officers by the Ministry or the Special Grants Committee in connection with cases of alleged unworthy conduct on the part of widows?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)The Ministry's inquiry officers, who are also at the disposal of the Special Grants Committee if specially required, are employed to investigate the facts in a variety of cases where local inquiry is necessary for the purpose, and in so doing they act under such general instructions as have been found desirable.
§ Major MilnerAre we to understand that in these cases the Ministry and not the Special Grants Committee have the conduct, under statutory authority, to issue instructions, and have these instructions to receive the approval of the Special Grants Committee?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe instructions are confidential. The Ministry places the inquiry agent at the disposal of the Special Grants Committee when requested to do so.
§ Mr. PalingIs it not a fact that many of the conclusions of these officers are based not on fact but on rumour?
§ Major MilnerHaving regard to the number of complaints about these investigating officers, will the Minister be good enough to let me have a sight of the instructions which are issued?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI cannot do that, as the instructions are confidential.
§ 41. Major Milnerasked the Minister of Pensions whether widows accused of unworthy conduct are now being informed that they are entitled to appear before the Special Grants Committee in person; and how many widows have so appeared to date?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI understand that the Special Grants Committee have, as I 2696 informed the hon. and gallant Member on 31st May last, agreed to adopt this procedure when the widow disputes the main points alleged against her. No such case has yet arisen.
§ Major MilnerMy question is, and I ask it again, whether widows are informed of the rights which they are now presumed to have? If they are not informed of these rights, how can they know of them and take advantage of them?
§ Mr. RamsbothamIf the main points are in dispute, they would be informed, but no such cases have arisen.
§ Mr. PalingDoes that mean that no cases previous to 31st May can have this privilege, or does it mean that any cases can have this privilege?
§ Mr. RamsbothamIf the hon. Member has any cases which he thinks the Special Grants Committee would like to see, he can bring them to the attention of the committee.
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs it not a fact that widows who have been deprived of their pensions upon a procedure which is now recognised to be unsatisfactory will be entitled to have their cases reopened? Is the Minister further aware that there is a widespread feeling that this rule is being exercised most unfairly and unjustly?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe rule has been in force since the commencement of the Special Grants Committee in 1919. There has been no material change. I have replied to the point put by the hon. Member for North Aberdeen (Mr. Garro Jones) in my reply to the hon. Member for Wentworth (Mr. Paling).
§ Mr. Garro JonesIs it to be retrospective? On a point of Order. Is the Minister entitled to evade a negative or affirmative reply by stating that he has answered the question, when, in fact, he has not done so and has made no attempt to do so?