§ 26. Lieutenant Herbert Hughesasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in issuing Notices of Decision to claimants giving them the right to appeal on a pre scribed form, he will enclose copies of the form, thereby saving time and postage for the claimant and his own Department.
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Wilfred Paling)The proportion of appeals against the decision of my Department would not justify the adoption of the hon. and gallant Member's proposal, which would involve the sending of other documents as well as the appeal form.
§ 27. Mr. Murrayasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Mr. William Donn, M.B.E., of 14, Chapel Street, Hun- wick, County Durham, having served all through the war in the Merchant Navy and obtained the Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1941, the Lloyds War Medal for bravery and the two Stars, has been six weeks in the E.M.S. Hospital, Bishop Auckland, for treatment and now he is only able to do light work; that this man receives no pension or war gratuity; and will he take steps to assist this deserving case.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingMr. Donn has made no application to my Department, but arrangements have been made to initiate a claim to pension, and Mr. Donn was medically examined yesterday. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of War Transport that, as was explained in a reply by my right hon. Friend to the hon. and gallant Member for Aston (Major Wyatt) on 15th October, war gratuities are not payable to members of the Merchant Navy.
§ Mr. MurrayIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that this man has a wife and three children, that he has tried everywhere for light work, which is not available, and that the only gratitude which seems to be available for persons like this is that they must sign on at the employment exchange?
§ Mr. PalingThe medical board has been operating; we are expecting a report, and we shall take action accordingly.
§ 28. Mr. Cobbasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners have paid stipends accumulated during the German occupation to incumbents in Jersey, plus 2½ per cent. compound interest; and why war pensioners have not been given the same treatment.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingI am not aware of the action taken by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, but the procedure followed by my Department accords with the normal Government practice.
§ Mr. CobbWill the Minister consider dealing with these war pensioners with the same justice and generosity as have been displayed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners?
§ Mr. PalingI am informed that, so far as Jersey is concerned, the pensions of widows and disabled men who continued to reside in Jersey were continued in payment throughout the German occupation, by the Stales of Jersey.
§ Mr. CobbIs the Minister not aware that interest was paid on all the accumulated stipends of incumbents in Jersey but it has not been paid on the accumulated pensions of war pensioners?
§ Lieutenant Skeffington-LodgeIs the Minister aware that parsons of all denominations, both in Jersey and elsewhere, are most inadequately paid? Do they not deserve all they can get?
§ 29. Sir Wavell Wakefieldasked the Minister of Pensions why there is so long a delay in paying education grants; and will he take steps to ensure that these routine payments are made within seven days.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingThe recurring payment of an education grant is normally made within about the period mentioned by the hon. Member. A change in the circumstances of the parent may occasionally involve investigation and modification of the grant either up or down. I am looking into the two cases which the hon. Member has brought to my notice and I will write to him shortly.