§ Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Pensions whether pensioners who are in receipt of provisional pensions are called up for re-examination for medical examination one month before their 1564W pensions expire; whether he is aware that three or four months elapse before these pensioners know whether their pensions are to continue, and during which time they experience great hardship by receiving no payment; and whether he will consider an earlier examination or other arrangement to remove this grievance?
§ Major TRYONAs a statement of the general practice of the Ministry in regard to the renewal of conditional awards of pensions, the procedure described in my hon. Friend's question is not correct. With the direct object of preventing a break in the issue of pension, pensioners are called up for medical re-examination some time before the expiry of the current award, but normally the new-award is notified within 14 days of the examination. In exceptional circumcumstances when a pensioner does not receive notification of the new award a week before his current pension is due to expire, he is entitled to communicate with his Local War Pensions Committee, who are authorised to continue the pension at the former rate pending notification of the new award.