§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That a Supplementary sum, not exceeding £10, be granted to His Majesty, to defray the charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1947, for such of the salaries and expenses of the Supreme Court of Judicature and Court of Criminal Appeal as are not charged on the Consolidated Fund, and a grant in aid; the salaries and expenses of Pensions Appeal
1098
Tribunals; and the salaries and expenses of the War Pensions (Special Review) Tribunals.
§ Mr. Butcher (Holland with Boston)I rise to express the hope we might have such information from the learned Solicitor-General as would enable us to review the progress of the War Pensions (Special Review) Tribunals. This is a matter in which many of us on this side of the Committee take the keenest possible interest, and if he could say how these tribunals are progressing, we should be extremely obliged.
§ Mr. Willis (Edinburgh, North)Before my hon. and learned Friend replies. may I ask what is the position with regard to Scotland on this item? There was considerable feeling amongst ex-Servicemen in Scotland when the first of these cases came up for review at Carlisle. Is it intended that there shall be a special review tribunal to deal with Scottish cases? If not, will my hon. and learned Friend give us an assurance that, whenever possible, these cases will be heard either in Glasgow or Edinburgh?
§ Mr. TeelingOn a point of Order, Mr. Beaumont, are hon. Members allowed to read newspapers in this Committee? I think the hon. Member for Bolton (Mr. J. Jones) is reading one.
§ The Deputy-Chairman (Mr. Hubert Beaumont)It is out of Order to read newspapers here, and if any hon. Member is so doing he or she must desist.
The Solicitor-GeneralThe position with regard to pensions appeals tribunals is this: the Supplementary Estimate is necessitated by the fact that the number of tribunals which it has been necessary to constitute is more than was anticipated when the original Estimate was prepared. I will give one or two figures in support of that. When the original Estimate was prepared, the number thought necessary was 20. In May, 1946, there were 21 courts. That rose month by month until, in October, 1946, there were 25 courts. In December, 1946, there were 24, and by the end of this month the number should have been reduced to 17 by reason of the back of the work which falls to be done by those tribunals having been broken. With regard to the last question, I understand the position to be that one court, by agreement with the Scottish authorities, will go round the country and 1099 will deal with Scottish cases. I believe that is an accurate statement.