HC Deb 24 February 1944 vol 397 cc971-3
42. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions how many entitlement claims, previously rejected, have been reconsidered to date as a result of the provisions of the recent White Paper; how many of these have been admitted to pension; how many have been rejected; and how many are still under consideration, respectively.

Sir W. Womersley

Up to 12th February last, the number of entitlement claims, previously rejected, which have been reopened under the terms of the recent White Paper is about 29,000. Of these, somewhat more than 7,500 have been admitted to pension, about 20,000 have been rejected and approximately 1,350 are still under consideration.

Sir I. Fraser

Can my right hon. Friend tell the House how it comes about that some of these cases which have been allowed a pension get their arrears back to the time when disability occurred, while others only get the arrears back to the Royal Warrant?

Sir W. Womersley

Those who get the arrears back to their claim for pension were the cases where it was found that there had been material aggravation. Those who get their pensions dated back to the date when the House approved the new Regulations are those whose cases are merely aggravated. Therefore they only come under the new Regulations.

43. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions how many claims to economic supplementation of pension have been made to date as a result of the provisions of the recent White Paper; how many of these have been granted; how many have been rejected; how many have lapsed; and how many are under consideration, respectively.

Sir W. Womersley

Rather more than 8,200 applications have been received, of which about 4,350 have been found to satisfy the necessary requirements, approximately 2,700 have been unsuccessful and 300 have lapsed. About 900 cases are still under consideration.

44. Sir H. Williams

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is prepared to review the decision in respect of the application for a gratuity made by the widow of the late Commander E. D. Michell, D.S.O., R.N., who was killed at Tripoli on 14th March, 1943, through the explosion of a grouting machine in circumstances of which he has been informed.

Sir W. Womersley

As death in this case was due to an accidental explosion in a military workshop, I regret that I am unable to add to the normal pension and allowances the special gratuity which is granted to the widow of an officer who is killed in action or while on flying duties.

Sir H. Williams

As this man was engaged in work connected with the war, in a place which was a scene of military operations, surely the widow is entitled to a gratuity just as much as if her husband had been killed in action?

Sir W. Womersley

No, Sir. There is a lot of misunderstanding about this gratuity. The old traditional institution granted it many years ago to the widows of men actually killed fighting in action. It was considered by a committee presided over by Mr. Baldwin in 1922, which recommended that, because of the tradition, it should be continued. But as it created an enormous number of anomalies—indeed the very great one that it did not apply to the rank and file—it was decided by the Government of that day that it should not be extended. That is the law at the present moment, and I can only carry out that law.