HC Deb 02 October 1941 vol 374 cc702-7
32. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has now received Treasury sanction to apply the principles of the Determination of Needs Act to awards of need pensions to parents; when the new scales will be put into operation; and what steps are being taken to acquaint those affected by the amended basis of awards?

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the Questions put by the hon. and gallant Member for Accrington (Major Procter) and the hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. Dobbie) on nth September, a copy of which I am sending to him.

33. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Minister of Pensions, whether he has now obtained Treasury sanction for the payment of home treatment allowances at the full rate for the first two weeks of treatment in cases where treatment continues beyond that period?

Sir W. Womersley

Yes, Sir.

34. Mr. Buchanan

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to make a statement in regard to award of pensions for death or disablement of members of the Forces resulting from accidents whilst off duty or on leave, and in respect of death or disablement resulting from disease regarded as constitutional, of which there was no evidence at time of embodiment in the Forces or prior to it?

Sir W. Womersley

The subject of death or disablement of members of the Armed Forces resulting from accidents whilst off duty or on leave is still under consideration. With regard to the second part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar Question by the hon. and gallant Member for South-East Leeds (Major Milner) on 3rd July, a copy of which I am sending to him.

35. Mrs. Tate

asked the Minister of Pensions what rate of compensation under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme is paid to a gainfully employed single woman in the event of her losing an arm owing to enemy action while employed in a Government factory; and what rate of compensation would be paid to a single man under the scheme in the same event?

Sir W. Womersley

The rate of the life pension which would be awarded to a gainfully occupied single woman under the Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme in respect of the loss of an arm as a result of a war injury would vary from 12s. 1d. to 19s. 4d. a week according to site of amputation and whether the right or left arm was involved. The corresponding rates for a single man would be from 17s. 1d. to 27s. 4d. a week.

Mrs. Tate

Is my right hon. Friend of the opinion that this State differentiation in the payment of men and women is likely to encourage women to volunteer for work in factories?

Sir W. Womersley

I stated the case very fully in the recent Debate in the House, which lasted a whole day, and I have nothing to add to that.

Mr. Shinwell

Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that the variation in the rates paid to men and women is much too wide, and will he not reconsider the matter, because there is no justification for this great disparity?

Sir W. Womersley

My answer is exactly what I said before. I stated the case fully on that occasion, and I have nothing more to add.

36. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will inform the House as to the difference in amounts between the pension of 100 per cent. down to 5 per cent. paid to members of the Armed Forces who suffered disability in the 1914–18 war and those who suffer the same percentage disability in the present conflict; and will he also give the reason for the difference?

Sir W. Womersley

The difference between the present rate of pension for a private soldier and that payable under the Royal Warrant of 6th December, 1919, varies proportionately to the degree of disablement from 5s. 10d. a week in the case of 100 per cent. down to 1s. 2d. a week in the case of 20 per cent. Pension is not payable for disablement below 20 per cent., which is compensated by a gratuity, or an allowance for a limited period, or a combination of the two. The reason for the difference between the rates laid down in 1919 for great war cases and the new war rates is that the former were related to a higher cost of living figure.

37. Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the disappointment in many homes, and the general feeling against the practice held by large numbers of people in the country, he will now take the necessary steps to abolish the application of the means test to the parents of those who lose their lives in the country's cause, when such parents make a claim for pension?

Sir W. Womersley

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to a similar Question put by the hon. and gallant Member for West Bromwich (Captain Dugdale) on 26th June, a copy of which I am sending to him.

Mr. Shinwell

Is not the right hon. Gentleman aware that the continuance of the means test in relation to this matter is causing considerable discontent and that hon. Members were informed some time ago that it was the intention and, indeed, the decision of the Government to abolish the means test? Why is it being continued in this form?

Sir W. Womersley

The hon. Member is entirely wrong. There is no such thing as a means test—[Interruption.] I have adopted the provisions laid down by Parliament for dealing with the question of need, and what I have done has been in accordance with what the House has ruled.

38. Miss Ward

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consult with the Assistance Board with a view to arranging that service pensions to dependants granted under the term of Royal Warrant to persons receiving grants from the Board are disregarded in assessing the allowances from the Board?

Sir W. Womersley

I am consulting with the Assistance Board to see whether there is any matter requiring discussion between the two Departments.

Miss Ward

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that somewhat queer reply—[Interruption].

Sir W. Womersley

There are more things queer than the reply.

40. Mr. Viant

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the increasing cost of living, he will give sympathetic consideration to the position of the pensioners and war widows of the war of 1914–18, and increase their pensions accordingly?

Sir W. Womersley

The rates in question are related to a cost-of-living figure in excess of that now obtaining and there are accordingly no grounds for any increase at present.

41. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the disappointment caused by his decision not to set up regional appeal tribunals till after the war, and the apprehension of those involved that this will lead to overwhelming arrears; and whether he will reconsider the matter with a view to the immediate establishment of the necessary local or regional machinery?

Sir W. Womersley

I have nothing to add to the statements I made on this subject in the course of the Debate on the Motion for the Adjournment on 16th July and again during the Debate in Committee of Supply on the vote of the Ministry on 31st July, when I explained why a general system of appeals to independent pensions appeal tribunals would be impracticable at the present time.

Mr. Mathers

Are we to understand from the Minister that he is making no progress with his colleagues in the Government in giving effect to his own desire to have these tribunals set up?

Sir W. Womersley

I have been awaiting the report of the Committee dealing with the question of the supply of doctors, and I have been in consultation with my Advisory Committee on other matters relating to this. I am not losing any time in dealing with it.

Mr. Shinwell

Does this mean that the Minister will have something to add at a later date?

Sir W. Womersley

I have already stated that I am in favour of appeal tribunals. For one thing, they would take the responsibility off my shoulders, and would save many Questions in the House.

Mr. R. J. Taylor

Will the right hon. Gentleman speed up this matter, as there is growing feeling in the country on the subject?

Mr. Woodburn

Will the Minister consider carefully setting up some machinery in Scotland, as there is a feeling that under the present arrangements the distance is rather great?

Sir W. Womersley

I have asked the Was Pensions Committee in Scotland to investigate every case of complaint, and report to me. I am certain that I could not do anything better than that.

42. Mr. Mander

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he has formulated his promised proposals for augmenting the modified pensions granted to widows under the Great War Royal Warrants?

Sir W. Womersley

Yes, Sir. I have been authorised to make additional grants to these widows under the same conditions as would appertain if they were eligible for supplementary pension under Section 9 of the Old Age and Widows' Pensions Act, 1940.