HC Deb 02 November 1944 vol 404 cc944-5
26. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Ian Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions if a seriously disabled and unemployable soldier who has no wife may now be granted an allowance for one adult person who is dependent upon him, or for a housekeeper who looks after his children.

The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)

I have this matter under examination.

27. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will raise the maximum rate of pension to a dependant, other than a widow or parent, of a deceased pensioner from 12s. per week to £1 per week.

Sir W. Womersley

Experience shows that the rate in question is not out of harmony with the maximum support which has been received by the dependants in the cases affected and I see no reason for altering it.

Sir I. Fraser

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the proposals in the White Paper on Social Insurance show that a benefit of this kind is given for civilians? Ought not ex-Servicemen to be at least equally well treated?

Sir W. Womersley

I think we had better await the Debate on the White Paper before we arrive at any decision.

28. Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions if he will raise the death benefit for a deceased pensioner from £10 to £20.

Sir W. Womersley

The grant in respect of a privately arranged funeral of a deceased pensioner was increased in December last from £7 10s. to £10 and I regret that I am unable to adopt the hon. and gallant Member's suggestion.

29. Mr. James Griffiths

asked the Minister of Pensions what number of cases are awaiting consideration by the Pensions Appeals Tribunal in South Wales.

Sir W. Womersley

I regret that the records of my Department are not so arranged as to enable me to furnish the information asked for.

30. Mr. J. Griffiths

asked the Minister of Pensions how many persons graded A 1 on admission to the Forces have been refused pensions on the ground that their disability, tuberculosis, is not due to their service; and what tests are applied by his medical advisers to decide these cases.

Sir W. Womersley

I regret that the records of my Department do not enable me to give the figures asked for but the large majority of cases of tuberculosis are accepted as due to service. As regards the second part of the Question, each application is considered in the light of the available evidence, including the member's medical history and the conditions of his service. Among the cases rejected it is not uncommon to find that, whereas the member on entry was graded I on clinical examination, he was subsequently found, by mass radiography, to be suffering from a quiescent lesion and to have been discharged to prevent the possibility of reactivation.

Mr. Griffiths

If a man is graded A 1 by competent medical men on behalf of the Government, ought not the Government to accept liability?

Sir W. Womersley

We do exactly as the hon. Member has suggested. If a man is graded A 1, and there is some aggravation of his condition, we award a pension, but I cannot accept a case where there has been no reactivation, or where a man has been discharged solely to prevent the possibility of reactivation.