§ 23. Mr. Heathcoat Amoryasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to make any announcement about the application to partially disabled pensioners of the 1914 world war of the provision for special hardship allowance for 1939 world war pensioners.
§ 24. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider extending to partially disabled pensioners 1610 of the 1914 world war the existing provision for special hardship allowance for partially disabled pensioners of the 1939 world war.
§ Mr. BuchananI am very glad to be able to announce that, as from 1st May, 1948, a special hardship allowance will be payable, on application, to a partially disabled pensioner of the 1914 world war, whose war disablement has at any time after 1st July, 1945, rendered him incapable and likely to remain permanently incapable of following the occupation which he regularly followed for a reasonable period up to 1st July, 1945, and incapable of following any other suitable occupation of equivalent standard.
I am also pleased to add that, as from 1st May, the maximum rate of special hardship allowance will be 20s. a week instead of 11s. 3d. a week as at present. Allowances in payment to pensioners of the 1939 war will be reviewed without application and the appropriate increases granted.
Mr. AmoryWhile I would like sincerely to congratulate the Minister on this most helpful step, which will be of very great assistance in relieving hardship, may I ask him whether he is satisfied that the date applied will enable the particular object to be attained?
§ Mr. BuchananTo say that I am satisfied would be carrying it too far. All that I can promise is that it will alleviate the position. My own mind is never fixed, and, if it is found not to be the case, we will look at it again; but it is, of course, a great improvement.
§ Mr. HaleIs the Minister aware that the concession will be very greatly appreciated—though we shall still ask for more—and will bring very real and generous help to most hardly-pressed members of the community?
§ Mr. ChetwyndWill my right hon. Friend give an indication of the number involved in this concession?
§ Mr. BuchananI do not think I could do so without notice.
§ Mr. WillisCan my right hon. Friend say whether these arrangements will be of assistance to men who, because of their age, have to take less remunerative jobs than those they had before?
§ Mr. BuchananYes, Sir. I think it can be assumed that, had a man not been disabled, age alone would not have prevented him from carrying out his own occupation. These points will be considered sympathetically, and I hope that in such cases we will be able to pay the pension.