HC Deb 01 July 1943 vol 390 cc1817-8

Resolution reported, That for the purposes of any Act of the present Session to provide for the bringing of appeals against the rejection by the Minister of Pensions on certain grounds of claims in respect of incapacity for work, disablement or death arising out of the war and against certain other decisions of the Minister of Pensions affecting awards in respect of such claims, it is expedient to authorise the payment out of moneys provided by Parliament of such sums as may be necessary to defray the remuneration of the members of Pensions Appeal Tribunals constituted under the said Act and expenses incurred by or in connection with the said Tribunals.

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

Dr. Haden Guest (Islington, North)

I want to ask the Minister of Pensions a question. What arrangements will be made for seeing that any necessary expert witnesses called by appellants will be paid from funds at the disposal of the tribunals? Many appellants will not have the means to call these witnesses, either medical or other, and it is very important that it should be made known that such witnesses may be called, and that provision should be made for their payment.

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

This matter is to be dealt with by an Amendment to be moved to the Bill. I ask hon. Members to leave it at that. We can go into it fully on the Bill.

Dr. Guest

That is precisely why I raised the matter; because I wanted to know whether that Amendment would be in Order.

Sir W. Womersley

I presume that it will, although I have no information.

Mr. Silverman (Nelson and Colne)

We want to be sure, before we pass this Resolution, that it is wide enough to allow us to amend the Bill, to provide for payment of these expenses. We do not want to be told at a later stage that the Amendment cannot be moved because it is inconsistent with a Money Resolution that we have already adopted.

Sir W. Womersley

I am advised that the Resolution is wide enough.

Question put, and agreed to.