§ 21. Major Procterasked the Minister of Health whether his attention has been called to the plight of applicants for old age and spinsters' pensions who qualified for pensions as far back as July last, but who have not yet received any payment; and whether he proposes to take any steps to expedite the procedure whereby applications for such pensions can be dealt with more promptly?
Mr. M. MacDonaldI am satisfied that there is no delay in deciding claims for pension when the necessary evidence of title has been furnished by or on behalf of the claimant. Of the 254,000 claims to old age pension under the 1940 Act received in England before 1st July last, more than 250,000 have already been decided, the remainder being cases which on the information at present available would have to be rejected, but in which inquiries are being made in order to see whether the statutory conditions for the award of pension can be satisfied. If my hon. and gallant Friend has any particular cases in mind, perhaps he will be good enough to let me have details.
§ Major ProcterIs my right hon. Friend aware that owing to delay in answering letters, considerable delays do actually occur, and that these are causing very great hardships to the recipients of old age and spinsters' pensions?
Mr. MacDonaldIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman will let me have particulars of these cases, I will have them looked into.