§ 30. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that Mrs. Sullivan, of Leigh, has had £5 8s. deducted from her pension and she claims she has not had any relief from the Assistance Board; and will he have inquiries made to find out why this was done?
§ Mr. E. BrownThe deduction to which my hon. Friend refers was made, in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 of the Old Age and Widows' Pensions Act, 1940, from arrears of old age pension awarded to Mrs. Sullivan for the period between her sixtieth birthday and the date of her husband's death.
§ Mr. TinkerIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this lady was bombed out from her home and that her husband died from the effects of the shock? Surely in a case like that something ought to be done.
§ Mr. BrownI have, as my hon. Friend knows, written a long letter about it. The hon. Member also knows what the difficulty was. A considerable amount of 2064 inquiry was necessary because this lady did not fill up the forms correctly. [Interruption.] It is a fact. He knows also that we have shown a very sympathetic attitude about the matter, and that she is now receiving a supplementary pension of 8s. a week. It the hon. Member wishes to put any further point forward, I shall be very glad to consider it.
§ Major LyonsIs it the intention to suspend any other such deductions?
§ Mr. BrownThere are, of course, certain provisions, namely, the Regulations passed in 1940, which govern the whole matter.