§ 27. Brigadier Lowasked the Minister of National Insurance whether he is aware of delays in forwarding new old age pension order books to the Post Office for pensioners before the time of expiry of the old one; and why, despite the assurances to the contrary, neither the original new order book nor a duplicate which was promised have reached the local post office for a pensioner, particulars of whom have been sent to him, despite the fact that the pensioner's old book expired on 13th June.
§ Mr. J. GriffithsIn general, the renewal of pension order books, averaging nearly 80,000 each week, is carried out without a hitch. In the particular case to which the hon. and gallant Member refers a book containing orders available from 2oth June was issued to the proper Post Office on 24th May. As the book could not be found on 10th June when the first payment from it was due, the Post Office made an emergency payment of pension for that week. A duplicate order book was issued to the Post Office on 5th July in response to letters from the pensioner, and this book is now in his possession.