HC Deb 03 July 1939 vol 349 cc902-4
25. Mr. Tinker

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will have an examination made of all the cases of children of deceased or disabled soldiers who were given allowances up to the age of 21; and if, after such investigation, he is satisfied that hardship exists, whether he will take measures to bring before Parliament the need for altering the Royal Warrant which excludes payment after the age of 21?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

I am afraid the suggestion in the first part of this question would be impracticable. Once an allowance has ceased to be payable, the Ministry have no further knowledge of cases of the type referred to which have at one time or another drawn pension or allowances in the past 20 years. With regard to the latter part of the question, suggestions to the same effect have on previous occasions received careful consideration, but the Warrant provisions in question involve an important principle which has been maintained by all successive Governments since the War. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the full replies given on this subject, both by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West Bromwich (Mr. F. O. Roberts) in 1930, and by my right hon. Friend the present Postmaster-General in 1935, to which I have nothing to add.

Mr. Tinker

The hon. Member will be aware that there are a number of distressing cases. In view of that, and in order to do the fair thing by these people, why cannot he have an examination made? Then he can let Parliament know the actual position, and we can decide on the best way of doing our duty to people who have given their lives in the service of the country.

Sir W. Womersley

I am aware that there are cases of hardship, including the one that the hon. Member brought to my notice a fortnight ago. I am prepared to look into all of them, and there are means whereby assistance can be rendered in cases of real hardship.

Mr. Tinker

That is not adequate, and something more should be done for them.

26. Mr. McGovern

asked the Minister of Pensions the total expenditure on war pensions for each year from 1915 to 1939?

Sir W. Womersley

As the answer involves a number of figures, I propose, with the hon. Member's permission, to circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following is the answer:

Expenditure on War Pensions.
£
1914–15 … … 1,086,960
1915–16 … … 3,157,560
1916–17 … … 10,160,973*
1917–18 … … 24,410,069*
1918–19 … … 50,984,391*
1919–20 … … 98,934,666
1920–21 … … 106,645,516
1921–22 … … 95,559,616
1922–23 … … 80,782,442
1923–24 … … 72,447,925
1924–25 … … 69,548,194
1925–26 … … 66,916,268
1926–27 … … 63,191,867
1927–28 … … 59,791,947
1928–29 … … 56,732,700
1929–30 … … 54,100,384
1930–31 … … 51,765,445
1931–32 … … 49,466,537
1932–33 … … 46,825,108
1933–34 … … 45,051,587
1934–35 … … 43,296,874
1935–36 … … 42,460,934
1936–37 … … 41,393,591
1937–38 … … 40,200,427
1938–39 … … 39,414,500†
* These figures include the expenditure of the Statutory Committee, and its successor, the Special Grants Committee.
† This figure is estimated.