HC Deb 24 October 1940 vol 365 cc1119-20
6. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the investigation into the household means test in connection with the unemployed, he will immediately institute an inquiry into the present system of granting pensions to dependants of men killed in the war, with a view to withdrawing the present test of pecuniary and financial need before a pension can be granted?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

The present system of granting pensions to the dependants of men killed in the war, contained in the Royal Warrant of 1940, was accepted by the Government following the recommendations of my Statutory Advisory Committee who gave the subject exhaustive consideration. I see no grounds for any modification of the system.

Miss Ward

In view of the fact that the household means test has been accepted by the Government and passed by Parliament, may I ask whether the request of a Conservative may receive some consideration? I beg to give notice that, owing to the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I will raise the matter on the Adjournment.

8. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the hardship endured by those with pre-Great War disability pensions owing to the decline in the real value of their pensions; and whether he will consider taking steps to place all war pensioners on a similar scale?

Sir W. Womersley

A Royal Warrant of 1st November, 1920, made provision for increasing pensions for disablement due to war service prior to 4th August, 1914, to the Great War Warrant rates appropriate to the degree of disablement found. The latter rates were based on the cost of living figure obtaining in 1919 which is considerably in excess of that obtaining to-day. The hon. Member will therefore appreciate that there is at present no justification for a further increase.

Mr. Sorensen

Does the Minister agree that it would be advisable at some early date to consolidate the scales of pensioners of the present, past, and pre-1914 wars?

Sir W. Womersley

That is a matter that I have always under consideration.

9. Mr. Simmonds

asked the Minister of Pensions the position with regard to pensions for the dependants of men in the Services who, through accident or otherwise, are shot dead by sentries on duty?

Sir W. Womersley

It is not possible to give a categorical answer. Some such cases have been accepted, but the question whether the death of a serving soldier who is shot by a sentry can be regarded as attributable to Service must be determined in the light of all the circumstances of the case. If the hon. Member has a particular case in view and wishes to communicate with me on it, I shall be glad to consider it.

10. Mr. Dunn

asked the Minister of Pensions why numbers of soldiers' wives and families, in receipt of allowances from the War Grants Advisory Committee, have been instructed to send in their pay-books and that grants made have been withdrawn; whether any change in policy has been adopted in consequence of the increase in pay to serving soldiers, and will he indicate what the changes are?

Sir W. Womersley

Instructions have been given that the recent increase of pay granted to serving soldiers is always to be disregarded in assessing war service grants. There are, however, frequent changes in other directions in the financial circumstances of families; and in so far as these diminish or remove the hardship on which a grant was based the grant must necessarily be adjusted.