§ 9. Mr. Michael Footasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make a full and detailed statement on the change and improvements in war pensions introduced by his Department since September, 1945, showing the increases in benefits provided and the alterations in the terms in which pensions may be granted.
§ Mr. BuchananThe list of changes and improvements introduced since September, 1945, is so long that, with the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. Important improvements which hardly lend themselves 1936 to inclusion in a list are the more generous interpretation of the Royal Warrant, and the development in the Ministry of a very real interest in the pensioner's general welfare.
§ Mr. FootSince it is very difficult to keep pace with the changes and improvements made by my right hon. Friend, will he consider the publication of a bi-weekly bulletin, in order to celebrate the fact that humanity is now embodied in the Ministry of Pensions?
§ Mr. BuchananNo, I know the House of Commons, and I know my politics, and I am not going to get too cocky, lest I have a very heavy fall.
§ Mr. Granville SharpWill my right hon. Friend arrange to send to each branch of the British Legion a copy of the information which he is circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT?
§ Mr. BuchananIf I know the British Legion, I know they are intelligent students of this matter, and will make good use of the information. Hon. Members on both side of the House will see the information. If there is a general desire to have wider publication, I will consider it.
§ The changes and improvements are as follow:
From September, 1945:1.Unemployability Supplement increased from 10s. to 20s. a week inclusive of National Health Insurance benefit.2. Allowance for wholly dependent wife increased from 10s. to 16s. a week where pensioner is receiving unemployability supplement or undergoing approved treatment.3. Introduction of allowance of, 6s. a week for wholly dependent adult relative of pensioner where he is in receipt of unemployability supplement or undergoing approved treatment.
From February, 1946:4. Increase in disablement pension rates for other ranks (100 per cent. rate for Private increased from 405. to 45s. a week).5. Introduction of special rate of Constant Attendance Allowance of 4os a week for cases of very severe disablement.6. Introduction of Special Hardship Allowance up to Its. 3d. a week for the partially disabled pensioner of the 1939 World War who, by reason of his pensionable disablement, is unable to resume his pre-service occupation or take up one of equivalent standard.7. Introduction of allowance for wear and tear of clothing due to wearing an artificial limb—L3 a year where pensioner wears a single artificial limb and L5 a year where he wears more than one artificial limb or a tilting-table limb.19378. Abolition of practice of making a deduction in respect of reduced home expenditure from the treatment allowances of a pensioner undergoing temporary in-patient treatment.9. Allowances payable for the wife and children of disablement pensioner if marriage took place not later than no years after the end of war service.10. Pension payable to widow of man who dies as a result of war service on or after 3rd September, 1939, irrespective of date of marriage, and allowances payable for children of marriage.11. Pension for widow over 40, or with children, or incapable of self-support, increased from 32s. 6d. to 35s. a week.12. Maximum rent allowance for widows of other ranks with children, raised from 12s. to 15s. a week.13. Maximum pension for dependent widower of other rank raised from 22s. 6d. to 35s. a week.14. Maximum weekly rates of parents' pensions raised as follows:
- Normal maximum for one parent from 15s to 20s.
- Exceptional maximum for one parent from 22s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.
- Normal maximum for two parents from 22s. 6d. to 27s. 6d.
- Exceptional maximum for two parents from 10s. to 40s.
15. Method of calculating need in parents' cases improved in favour of applicant.16. Pension for total orphan increased from 13s. 6d. to 20s. a week at age of 15.17. Royal Warrant provision made for award of pension in cases of the 1939 World War in which disablement claimed more than seven years after the end of war service is attributable to or aggravated by that service, or death taking place more than seven years after the end of war service was due to or substantially hastened by that service.
From January, 1947:18. Allowances for wife and children of a disablement pensioner payable irrespective of dates of marriage or of birth.19. Introduction of allowances for wives of South African War pensioners pensioned at World War rates.20. Minimum Constant Attendance allowance raised from 5s. to 10s. a week.21. Grants made to the Royal Patriotic Fund Corporation to enable them to increase pensions of pre-South African War widows to World War rates.22. Pension payable to invalid total orphan increased from 20s. to 26s. a week at age of 18.
From March, 1947:23. Introduction of Constant Attendance Allowance for pensioners of wars before the 1914 World War.
From April, 1947:24. Constant Attendance Allowance in cases of blindness increased from 10s. to 20s. a week.25. Introduction of Constant Attendance Allowance of 10s. a week for pensioners with only guiding vision.193826. Increase in certain assessments, as recommended by the Interdepartment Committee on the Assessment of Disablement due to Specified Injuries, applied to pensioners of both World Wars.
From July, 1947:27. Clothing grants for total orphans increased, e.g., initial outfit grant for child of in increased from £10 to £12 and annual grant from £8 to 10£.28. Provision for clothing grants, pocket money, holiday and medical expenses extended to orphans in care of relatives.
From December, 1947:29. Allowance payable to pensioner who has to abstain from work for a prolonged period after undergoing in-patient treatment increased from 9s. to 20s. a week inclusive of National Health Insurance benefit, and qualifying period reduced from three months to one month.30. Compensation for loss of remunerative time caused by attendance at medical examination payable irrespective of whether or not claim or appeal was successful.31. Increased free travelling facilities for pensioners going on leave from hospital, and for relatives visiting pensioners in hospital.
From February, 1948:32. Allowances for legally adopted children and stepchildren payable irrespective of date of adoption or of date of pensioner's marriage to child's mother.33. Normal period of award of pension, following a resurvey board, to be two years.34. Allowances for wear and tear of clothing due to pensioned disablement increased from and£3 and £5 a year to £5 and £8 a year respectively.
From March, 1948:35. Allowance for invalid child of disablement pensioner or widow of the 1914 World War extended beyond age of 21.36. Provision of medical and surgical treatment and of treatment allowances for former War pensioners under the same conditions as for pensioners of both World Wars.
From April, 1948:37. Abolition of practice of making deductions from treatment allowances in respect of sick pay or wages.38. Where pensioner supplied with a light pair of shoes on receiving his first artificial limb, provision made for extra shoe for sound foot.39. Removal from Education Allowance provision of requirement that the father would have been able to provide the education had he not become a war casualty.
From May, 1948:193940. Special Hardship Allowance increased to a maximum of 20s. a week and extended to include the partially disabled pensioner of the 1914 World War or earlier War who, by reason of his pensionable disablement, has, since 1st July, 1945, had to undertake employment of a standard lower than that regularly followed up to that date.41. Provision made to ensure that on the death of a parent who was in receipt of pension the case of the surviving parent is considered at once and the appropriate award made.
From July,1948:42. Modified pensions of certain widows of pensioners of the 1914 World War increased to 26s. a week where the widow is over 40 or is incapable of self-support or has children.