§ Mr. HOGGEasked the Pensions Minister whether he can give any information as to the number and type of pension revised up to 30th June; what class of pension has yet to be revised; whether he can make any general statement for the guidance of those concerned about applications for revision; and whether the embargo on letters is now removed?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENAs regards soldiers, 6,200 life pensions and 45,317 temporary pensions have been revised, the system followed being to revise the latter when they come up for renewal, except when the time for renewal is far1126W off, in which cases the revision is made in anticipation of that time. In addition to revision of the cases in which pensions were formerly granted there has been revision of 3,760 cases in which the claims were rejected. In 651 of these cases pensions, and in 3,109 gratuities, have been awarded. With regard to life pensions, it is desirable that application for reassessment should be made in any case where it has not been revised, but for revision of temporary pensions no application is necessary. By public notice, issued in April last, men who had been invalided from either Service and whose claims to pension had been refused were invited to apply for gratuities. Revision of widows' pensions is completed, with the exception of about 100 cases which have necessitated further consideration. Of the 75,000 cases of dependants' pensions, 27,000 have been completed, and it is estimated that the remaining 48,000 will be finished by the end of October. The cases are dealt with in rotation, and no special group of cases is given priority, except that where evidence of hardship has been disclosed the cases have been specially earmarked for early treatment.