§ 4. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will take steps to co-opt representatives of the British Legion, British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association and other representative ex-Service organisations on to the local committees set up under the National Insurance Act.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterIn accordance with the provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1946, members of these committees are appointed as representing employers and insured persons and there is no provision for the appointment of members specifically representing ex-Service organisations. While, however, the majority of the members are appointed on the nomination of organisations of employers and employed persons, local branches of other organisations, including those mentioned in the Question, can also put forward names for consideration.
§ Mr. SimmonsShould not the Minister move with the times? After all, the fact is that one of the arguments used when the Ministries were merged was that these committees would be available for the ex-Service man. Could he not look at the constitution of the committees in order to see whether it could be altered to bring ex-Service men on to them?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not think that has anything to do with the merger, because, of course, the war pensions committees—with which, I know, the hon. Gentleman is very familiar—are still very much alive and functioning. So far as these committees are concerned, the broad provision is made, of course, by Statute.