§ 2. Mr. Simmonsasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will state the numbers of war pensioners in 1914–18 and 1939–45 categories, respectively, who are 50 per cent. or more disabled, the numbers in each group in receipt of unemployability supplement, the numbers of totally disabled in each group, and for each group the numbers who receive attendance allowance and allowance for lowered standard of occupation, respectively; what is the annual cost of each allowance to each group of war pensioners; and what disabilities the older war pensioners suffer in qualifying for supplementary allowances compared with the 1939–45 war pensioners.
Mr. VaneAs the reply is long and contains a great many figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
| At 30th September, 1958 | ||||
| 1914 War | 1939 War and since | |||
| Disablement pensioners | ||||
| all assessments | 228,500 | 336,300 | ||
| 100 per cent, assessment | 15,000 | 17,550 | ||
| 50 per cent, or more assessment | 82,800 | 75,600 | ||
| Annual cost | ||||
| 1914 War | 1939 War and since | |||
| Pensioners receiving | £ | £ | ||
| constant attendance allowance | 3,608 | 5,428 | 264,687 | 417,172 |
| unemployability supplement | 9,105 | 7,907 | 1,494,501 | 1,382,168 |
| allowance for lowered standard of occupation | 2,888 | 13,159 | 215,750 | 1,018,078 |
| For awards of constant attendance allowance and unemployability supplement the qualifying conditions are the same for pensioners of each War. The test of eligibility for awards of allowance for lowered standard of occupation in the case of pensioners of the 1939 War and since is a comparison of the present occupation with that followed before service, but the comparison in the case of pensioners of the 1914 War is of the present occupation with the most remunerative occupation followed for a reasonable period between July, 1944 and July, 1945. |
§ Mr. SimmonsThe purport of the question can be answered without the figures. I asked what disabilities the older war pensioners suffer in qualifying for supplementary allowances compared with the 1939–45 war pensioners. Surely the Minister can answer that part of the Question without giving figures.
Mr. VaneThe hon. Member has asked a very long Question, and it is not easy to reply briefly even to the final part of it. He knows as well as I do—possibly better—that there is a technical difference in this question of eligibility for occupational allowances for the disabled of the two wars. As I have said, it would be better if he studied the very full reply before we entered into discussions.
§ Mr. SimmonsWill the Minister ask his right hon. Friend to consider very carefully the representations made by B.L.E.S.M.A. on behalf of the 1914–18 men? Will he have another look at the position of those men as it compares with that of the later war pensioners?
Mr. VaneMy right hon. Friend is always ready to look into this position again. He is seeing a deputation from a variety of ex-Service organisations, including B.L.E.S.M.A., in the very near future.
§ Following are the numbers and cost: