§ 25. Mr. Prenticeasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what proportion of war pensioners draw the 591 allowance for lowered standard of occupation; and what proportion of those receiving disablement benefit under the Industrial Injuries Act draw the special hardship allowance.
§ The Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (Mr. John Boyd-Carpenter)For war pensioners the figure is 3 per cent., and for industrial injury disablement pensioners 39 per cent. The two allowances are, of course, not the same.
§ Mr. PrenticeWould the Minister agree that while the regulations for the two allowances are not the same, broadly they fulfil the same purpose? Does not the difference between the two figures he has given suggest that another look should be taken at the regulations for war pensions to see whether they could be more liberally drawn? Is not another reason for the big difference that many war pensioners are not aware of their right to claim, and could publicity be given to that right?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterTaking the last point first, as the hon. Member knows, I have made every effort—including the recent circulation of a leaflet and a letter to each war pensioner—to make as sure as possible that every war pensioner knows to what he is entitled under the Royal Warrant. In reply to the first part of the hon. Member's question, it is impossible by taking one allowance separately out of each scheme to farm any really useful view. For example, if one looks at the war pensioners, one sees that their unemployability supplement is of particular importance.