HC Deb 12 December 1950 vol 482 cc968-70
29. Mr. Shurmer

asked the Minister of Pensions what provision is made for the unemployable disabled ex-Service men of the 1914–18 war.

Mr. Simmons

A pensioner of the 1914 war who is unemployable as a result of his war disablement is granted an unemployability allowance in addition to his pension and allowances for his family. Thus an ex-private soldier who is 100 per cent. disabled and is in receipt of the unemployability allowance receives for himself and his dependent wife £4 11s. a week and in addition 7s. 6d. a week for each of his children. He may also be eligible for a constant attendance allowance the maximum rate of which is 40s. a week.

Mr. Shurmer

Can my hon. Friend say how many 1914–18 war pensioners are receiving the unemployability supplement and what are the qualifications for claiming it?

Mr. Simmons

Since 1946 the number of pensioners receiving the supplement has risen from 6,800 to 17,500, including 10,000 of the 1914 war. The expenditure on the supplement has gone up in the same period from £440,000 to £1,524,000. With regard to the qualifications for unemployability supplement, I would refer hon. Members to paragraph 143 of the 25th Report of the Minister to Parliament which says—[Interruption.]

Mr. Pickthorn

On a point of order. May I ask whether these obviously prepared supplementary questions and answers are not a gross breach of the procedure of this House?

Mr. Speaker

I am not able to say whether they were prepared or not, but I am bound to say that these very long answers giving a lot of figures do look a bit odd. [HON. MEMBERS: "Hear, hear."] They take up the time of the House quite unnecessarily.

Mr. John Hynd

Further to the point of order; is not it desirable, in view of the misrepresentation which is being made on this subject, that the fullest information should be given to Parliament?

Mr. Speaker

This is not misrepresentation. It is a question which was asked involving an interminably long answer. I blame hon. Members who ask long supplementary questions, and equally I blame Ministers who give long supplementary answers. Both are to blame, and I like to see everything short and snappy.

Mr. Martin Lindsay

Is the Minister aware—

Mr. Sydney Silverman

On a point of order. Before a further supplementary question, snappy or not, is put to the Minister, ought we not to hear the end of the sentence, which the point of order interrupted?

Mr. Speaker

Yes. If it is not too long. I should have thought it could have been circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Simmons

As a 1914–18 man myself, I thought the figures which I am giving would be of interest to other 1914–18 men in the House. I have given the figures, and would refer hon. Members to the 25th Report of the Ministry of Pensions, paragraph 143, in regard to the qualifications for the unemployability supplement.

Mr. Lindsay

Is the Minister not aware, in spite of what the hon. Gentleman opposite has said, that many of the recipients of the disability pension are extremely worried about the rise in the cost of living? Does he not think that there is now a case for a Royal Commission to go into the matter?

Mr. Simmons

The increase in the cost of living is entirely another question.

Mr. Shurmer

Is my hon. Friend aware that my reason for asking this question is that for 28 years I have been a mem- ber of the Birmingham War Pensions Committee—[Interruption.] Is my hon. Friend aware that my reason for asking this question is that—[Interruption.] Now shut up.

Mr. Speaker

I think the hon. Gentleman said "Shut up." I hope he will remember that he is always addressing the Speaker.

Mr. Shurmer

I beg your pardon, Mr. Speaker. I was saying—is my hon. Friend aware that, for 28 years, I have been a member of the Birmingham—[Interruption.] In view of the statement made from the other side of the House, my reason for asking this question is that, having been a member of the Birmingham War Pensions Committee—[Interruption.] I shall call the hon. Member something in a minute. Is my hon. Friend aware—[Interruption.]

Mr. Osborne

On a point of order. May I, with the greatest respect, ask whether this Question can now be got on with?

Mr. Speaker

I understand that the hon. Gentleman the Member for Spark-brook (Mr. Shurmer) wanted to ask a question, and was not allowed to do so. May I point out that we have not reached Question No. 30 yet, and that we have been three-quarters of an hour in dealing with fewer than 30 Questions. That is about the record for slowness for this Parliament.

Mr. Shurmer

Is my hon. Friend aware that my reason for asking this Question, in view of the statements made on the other side of the House, is my membership for 28 years of the War Pensions Committee for Birmingham, and my close association with pensioners in Birmingham, both of the 1914–18 war, and of the last war?

Sir Ian Fraser

With regard to the last supplementary answer to the last Question, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary what percentage of the 750,000 war pensioners have received this unemployability allowance?

Mr. Simmons

The hon. Gentleman will find the full figures in the Minister's 25th Report to Parliament.

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