§ 3. Mr. Woodasked the Minister of Pensions what proportion of disabled pensioners are at present receiving special allowances.
§ Mr. SimmonsAbout 41,000 disablement pensioners, or nearly 6 per cent., are receiving one or more of the four main supplementary allowances, namely, for unemployability, constant attendance, comforts and lowered standard of occupation. About 41,500 allowances for wear and tear of clothing are also in payment.
§ Mr. WoodWould the hon. Gentleman not agree that life has become extremely hard for the other 94 per cent. Fortunately most of them are in employment, but they enjoy a very little increase of pension over pre-war pensions when the cost of living was much lower.
§ Mr. SimmonsThe great majority of war pensioners are fortunately in employment and the pensions and allowances for their wives and children are tax-free additions to their wages. I think that it is a very good commentary on the general state of the nation that only 6 per cent. of ex-Service men need these allowances.