HC Deb 02 May 1939 vol 346 cc1664-5
7. Mr. Neil Maclean

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that Mr. R. McGennity, 35, Ruthlin Street, Govan, was granted a campaign pension of 10s. per week, which, with his old age contributory pension, amounted to £1 per week as the income for himself and his wife; that the Glasgow Public Assistance Committee augmented this sum by 12s. per week, making the income 32s. per week; that the Commissioners of Chelsea Hospital, reviewed this pension, and, in view of the augmentation by the public assistance relief, reduced his campaign pension to 2s. per week from 14th January, 1938, then increased it to 8s. per week from 21st January, 1938, and again reduced it to 6s. per week from 2nd March, 1939, and on the grounds of an alleged overissue of pension are deducting 2s. per week from the 6s. until the alleged overissue is recovered; why these deductions have been made; and why public relief is being considered as an income which justifies a reduction of the pension?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

Special Campaign pensions are compassionate awards made to certain ex-regular soldiers of limited means, and the rate of pension depends on the other income of the recipient. We propose to get into touch with the public assistance officer in order to arrive at the issue from both sources which will be most favourable to the recipient.

Mr. Maclean

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that public assistance is relief and not income, and that it was granted after the granting of the pension awarded; and does he agree that it is fitting that the Chelsea Pension Department of his office should make an economy by placing upon the public rates what they ought to pay in relation to the campaign pension?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

They are not making an economy. This is a special kind of pension awarded to persons in need. It is quite above any pension to which there is any entitlement by law, and it is adjusted to the income. As I have told the hon. Gentleman, we are trying to arrange with the public assistance officer so that this man gets the maximum that he can get from both sources.

Mr. Maclean

Before a pension of this kind is granted must not the man have a certain amount of service in the Army?

Mr. Hore-Belisha

There are a limited number of these special pensions. They are given for need, and if somebody gets a pension who is not entitled to it, it keeps another man from getting it.

Mr. Maclean

Can the right hon. Gentleman inform me when he is likely to give me further information on this case as I intend to raise on the Adjournment the whole question of campaign pensions being reduced where public relief is given?