HC Deb 01 May 1940 vol 360 cc704-6
38. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the application for a pension made by Mrs. E. Collins, of 83, Great Egerton Street, Stockport, widow of Mr. E. Collins, late driver Royal Army Service Corps; that Collins was passed A1 on 14th December, 1939, and died on 14th January, 1940, in Shorncliffe military hospital, from bronchial pneumonia; and whether, in view of the probability that death was attributable to severe weather under Army conditions, Mrs. Collins' claim for a pension will be reconsidered?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

I am having further inquiries made regarding this case. As soon as these have been completed I will communicate with the hon. Member.

Mr. Tomlinson

Is the hon. Gentleman aware of the strong feeling aroused when decisions of this kind are sent to the widows?

Sir. W. Womersley

I am aware that statements of that kind are made from time to time, but I go carefully into every case which Members of Parliament bring to my notice.

Mr. Buchanan

Has not the time arrived when any person making a claim for a pension should be heard by some impartial body before which her case can be stated by the person involved or her representative?

Sir W. Womersley

It is the fact that the British Legion and other bodies do assist people in their applications.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that no claimant for a pension has any appeal against the Minister's decision, and is it not time that some body was set up?

Sir W. Womersley

The finest court of appeal in the country is available in the House of Commons.

Mr. Buchanan

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that owing to the growing number of cases it is impossible to raise all of them in the House?

39. Mr. Tomlinson

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider his decision to refuse a pension to Mrs. E. Reynolds, widow of Private Reynolds, who died whilst on sick leave, was posted in the roll of honour and whose own medical adviser, called in when the man returned home, stated definitely that his Army service was responsible for his death?

Sir W. Womersley

In view of additional information which has reached me since I wrote to the hon. Member last month, further inquiries are being made into this case and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

Mr. Tomlinson

How did the hon. Gentleman's medical advisers decide that this man died in any other way than that suggested by his own medical advisers, seeing they had no opportunity of examining him?

Sir W. Womersley

My medical advisers came to their conclusion on the evidence then available. Further evidence has now come in and we are having full inquiry made.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Why should there be such a conflict of medical evidence when a man is passed as A.1 and his medical advisers say he died as the result of some trouble he had when he joined the Army?

Mr. Lyons

Are the recommendations made by the Minister's medical advisers brought to the notice of the medical advisers of the applicant in order that they may comment on the matter before a decision is made?

Sir W. Womersley

The medical evidence of the man's advisers is brought to the notice of my advisers and on the evidence produced a decision is arrived at. Due consideration is given in every case to the evidence brought forward by the medical advisers of the claimant.

Mr. Tomlinson

May I ask whether, unless the Member of Parliament for this constituency had been persistent, any question of the evidence would have been raised at all?

Sir W. Womersley

Yes. A letter was sent to me, not by a Member of Parliament, but by the woman herself, and as soon as I got the letter I made inquiries into the matter.

Mr. Tomlinson

In spite of the fact that three letters had previously been sent.