§ Mr. HERRIOTTSasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has received a resolution passed by the Durham, Spennymoor, and District War Pensions Committee contending that the final weekly allowance is a gratuity and paid weekly to reduce heavy disbursements of capital; that in certain cases the whole amount is awarded and paid in a lump sum; that 2293W it is only by a comparatively recent decision of the Minister of Pensions that widows and dependants have been deprived of money which is legally their property; and what action it is proposed shall be taken in future to ensure that in the event of a pensioner dying who is in receipt, of a final weekly allowance, with or without a terminable gratuity, the balance unpaid shall be paid to his estate?
§ Major TRYONI would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave to the hon. Member for West Bromwich (Mr. F. Roberts) on the 29th March, of which I am sending him a copy. I may add that although the original practice was, through a misunderstanding, interrupted for a short time in 1920, there has been no change of policy, the Ministry having followed the long standing practice of the Service Departments in this matter.