§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Pensions how many men in receipt of life disability pensions and how many war widows are recipients of relief from the Liverpool Public Assistance Committee?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI regret that the records of my Department do not enable me to give this information, and I understand that the statistics of the Ministry of Health do not provide for this.
§ Mr. Chorltonasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the difficulty in appeal cases in arriving at a proper conclusion regarding the award of a pension to a widow or other dependant of a deceased pensioner for lack of sufficient medical evidence, he will arrange for the early examination of all pensions of 30 per cent. and over, and periodical examination afterwards?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI am satisfied that this proposal would not serve any useful purpose, having regard to the ample arrangements already in existence for obtaining medical evidence. Moreover, I 867W would remind my hon. Friend that it was decided many years ago as the result of widespread complaints from ex-service men themselves to abolish the system of periodical medical examination.