51. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraserasked the Prime Minister if he will close the gap between pay and pension by giving directions to the Service Departments on the one hand and the Ministry of Pensions on the other, to come to an arrangement for the retention on the strength and on full pay and allowances of a serving man or woman, even if he is unfit, until his rights to compensation have been finally decided by the Minister or by an appeals tribunal.
§ The Prime MinisterI understand that entitlement to pension is determined in the majority of cases before the man has completed discharge furlough. The Minister of Pensions also has power to make a provisional award in cases where it appears likely that entitlement will be granted but where a final decision may be somewhat delayed. Where a decision is delayed, payment is made with effect from the date of discharge. In cases where pension is awarded on appeal to the Minister or to an appeal tribunal, payment is also made retrospectively from the date of discharge unless the man concerned has allowed a period of six months or more to elapse before making representations to the Ministry as to their failure to grant a pension. I see no reason to assume that these arrangements are inadequate.
§ Sir I. FraserDoes my right hon. Friend realise that there are a fair number of cases where doubt about a man's entitlement cannot be resolved until the appeal tribunal sits and that since he has left the Service and has lost his pay there is sometimes a gap of weeks or months during which he has to go to public assistance for his only means of support? If that could be bridged does not my right hon. Friend think that that would meet public opinion?
§ The Prime MinisterI think it might be a useful thing if my hon. and gallant Friend had a talk to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Pensions and laid before him any instances he has in mind.