70. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions what progress he has made in reviewing the cases of severely disabled ex-service men who are unemployable with a view to granting them the special allowances together, where appropriate, with wives and children's allowances in post-injury marriage cases?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions (Mr. Paling)Approximately 1,200 supplementary allowances, including wife's and children's allowances where appropriate, have been issued to pensioners who are unemployable by reason of their pensionable disablement.
§ Sir I. FraserWill the hon. Member take steps to make this widely known?
§ Mr. PalingYes, Sir.
§ 71. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Pensions why Mrs. J. Bedwell, the widow of an ex-Service man of the last war, has been refused a pension for her son who was graded A1 when he joined the Army and was discharged on medical grounds after two years' service and has since died; has he taken into account the effect of this refusal on Mrs. Bedwell's four other sons who are all in the Forces; and will he have regard to the war record of this family and now grant a pension to Mrs. Bedwell, who is unable to work owing to ill-health?
§ Mr. PalingMy right hon. Friend is looking into this case in the light of the hon. Member's letter of 5th October and will write to him about it shortly.
§ 72. Lieutenant-Commander Hutchisonasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is yet in a position to make a statement on the memorandum on pension policy sent to him by the British Legion (Scotland) in May?
§ Mr. PalingThe Government's considered views on the more important aspects of pension policy are reflected by the decisions announced in the White Paper. The views of the British Legion (Scotland) on matters of principle were carefully considered with those of other representative organizations.
§ 73. Mr. Bullasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the widely held opinion that the basis under which war service grants are at present paid is inadequate; and, in order to relieve hardship, can something be done about this matter quickly?
§ Mr. PalingI am not aware that there is any widely held opinion in the sense indicated. But war service grants are calculated on individual circumstances, and if the hon. Member has any particular cases in mind in which the awards appear to be insufficient, I shall be glad to look into them.