HC Deb 10 October 1939 vol 352 cc166-71
63. Mr. Dingle

Foot asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make a statement in tabular form setting out the rates of disability pension and dependants' allowances payable under the Royal Warrant of September, 1939, Cmd. 6105, and the corresponding figures paid in respect of death and injury in the last war?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

I am arranging to circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a tabular statement showing typical rates of disability pension, retired pay and allowances to dependants provided under the Royal Warrant of 15th September, 1939, and the corresponding rates laid down in respect of the great war as finally revised to meet the abnormally high cost of living in 1919. For the hon. Member's information I have added to the table the rates prevailing at the beginning of the great war.

Following is the statement:

DISABILITY PENSIONS
Rank. Present War. Great War Current Rates. Rates at outbreak of Great War.
Yearly rates of retired pay for total disablement. Family Allowances appropriate to total disablement. Yearly rates of retired pay for total disablement. Family Allowances. Daily Rate appropriate to total disablement. Family Allowances.
Colonel … … £300 £25 for wife £20 for first child £15 for second child £10 for third child £330 There was no provision under the Warrant for family allowance, but the Special Grants Committee made awards on a discretionary basis. 11s. plus wound pension if very severely wounded. 3s. plus wound pension if very severely wounded. Family Allowances were not payable in addition to daily rate.
Lieutenant or 2nd Lieutenant. £150 £210
Rank. Present War. Great War Current Rates. Rates at outbreak of Great War.
Weekly rates of pension for total disablement. Family Allowances appropriate to total disablement (weekly). Weekly rates of pension for total disablement. Family Allowances appropriate to total disablement (weekly). Daily Rate appropriate to total disablement. Family Allowances.
W.O. Class I … 45s. od. 5s. od. for wife. 5s. od. for first child. 3s. 4d. for second child. 3s. 4d. for third child. 60s. od. 10s. od. for wife. 7s. 6d. for first child. 6s. od. for the second and other children. 3s. 6d. maximum. Family Allowances were not payable in addition to daily rate.
Private … … 32s. 6d. 40s. od. 2s. 6d. maximum.
DEATH ATTRIBUTABLE TO SERVICE.
Present War. Great War Current Rates. Rates at Outbreak of Great War.
Widow of Widow's Pension. Allowance for each child. Widow's Pension. Allowance for each child. Widow's Pension. Allowance for each child.
Colonel … £200 yearly 24 yearly £180 to £240 yearly £36 yearly £135 to £200 yearly £20 to £24 yearly
Lieutenant … £90 yearly £24 yearly £90 to £140 yearly £36 yearly £60 to £80 yearly £12 10s. to £15 yearly
2nd Lieutenant
Under 40 without eligible child and not incapacitated. With eligible child, over 40, or incapacitated. Under 40 without eligible child Over 40 or with eligible child
W.O. Class I … 23s. weekly 30s. weekly 5s. weekly 30s. weekly 40s. weekly 10s. for first child, 7s. 6d. for second child, and 6s. for each other child £30 yearly £6 5s. yearly
Private … 15s. 6d. weekly 22s. 6d. weekly 5s. weekly 20s. weekly 26s. 8d. weekly 5s. weekly 1s. 6d. weekly
Motherless Children.
N.C.O's. and Men (weekly rates). 10s. for each. 12s. for first, 11s. for each other. 3s. to 4s. according to rank.
Officers (yearly rates) £40 for each. £60 for first, £50 for each other. From £25 upwards according to rank, and subject to pecuniary need.
Parent.
N.C.O's. and Men (weekly rates). 2s. to 10s. according to circumstances. 3s. 6d. to 20s. according to circumstances. No provision.
Officers (yearly rates) Ranging, according to circumstances, from,£12 to a maximum of £55 or half appropriate widow's rate, whichever is the greater. £15 to £80 according to circumstances. From £40 upwards according to rank, to a widowed mother only.
64. Mr. Foot

asked the Minister of Pensions why the rate of disability pension and dependants' allowances payable in respect of injuries incurred in the present war are, in many instances, substantially less than those paid to men injured in the last war and their dependants?

Sir W. Womersley

The rates of disability pension and allowances which prevailed during the great war were raised to the figures laid down in the Royal Warrant of 1919 to meet the abnormally high cost of living at that time. The provisions of the Royal Warrant of September, 1939, are based on the regulations in force for the past 18 years, with certain modifications which make them substantially more favourable, and the rates will give the great majority of pensioners a rather greater purchasing power than that provided in 1919 by the corresponding rates.

Mr. Foot

Is it not the case that whereas a completely disabled soldier with a wife and four children under the 1919 Warrant would have received 75s. 6d., under this Warrant he would receive only 49s. 2d., and does the Minister seriously contend that that difference is completely accounted for by the difference in the cost of living figures?

Sir W. Womersley

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the calculation.

Sir A. Wilson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that there are no allowances whatever for any number of children over three, and does he consider that to be an advantageous arrangement?

Sir W. Womersley

I would ask my hon. Friend to await the final publication of the figures in respect of the question asked by the hon. Member for Stoke (Mr. E. Smith) on Thursday.