§ 56. Mr. Mainwaringasked the Minister of Health whether, since the reports provided by investigating officers form the basis upon which so many decisions on the part of courts of referees are arrived at, he will make it possible for these officers to be present at tribunals so that their evidence could be subject to ques- 1142 tions by or on behalf of the applicants for supplementary pensions?
Mr. M. MacDonaldThe procedure of Appeal Tribunals assumes that the pensioner will himself, if necessary with the help of a friend, explain the facts of his case to the tribunal, who will thus be in a position to decide at first hand what his circumstances are. I do not think, therefore, that the expenditure of time and money which the adoption of the hon. Member's suggestion would involve is justifiable, especially in view of the fact that a responsible officer of the Board attends each sitting of a tribunal to explain how the determination of the Board's officer has been arrived at.
§ Mr. MainwaringIs the Minister aware that the decisions of the tribunals are in fact based largely upon persons who are not present, that the responsible officer referred to by the Minister is not the person who made the investigation, and that in a large number of cases the reports are widely misleading and contrary to the facts?
Mr. MacDonaldThe position is as stated by the hon. Member, but the representative of the Board who does attend familiarises himself with all the particulars of the report made by the officer in question, and is perfectly qualified to answer questions on those details.
§ Mr. MainwaringWill the right hon. Gentleman be good enough to have a special inquiry made into the operation of these tribunals, because he can take my word for it that they are extremely unsatisfactory?
Mr. MacDonaldPerhaps the best basis of an inquiry will be such information as the hon. Member can give me from his experience. I will certainly look into evidence from his own experience.