§ 41. Mr. Storeyasked the Minister of Pensions what is the average length of time taken to decide an appeal against a refusal to award a war disablement pension.
§ Mr. IsaacsOwing to a variety of factors, including the procedure laid down in the relevant statutory rules, a considerable period must necessarily elapse between the submission of such an appeal and a decision by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. The majority of appeals are decided within seven months.
42. Mr. Leslie Haleasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will make a statement as to the rights of re-hearing provided by his regulations for a pensioner who has failed to establish to a medical board that he is entitled to a pension, and whose medical condition subsequently deteriorates.
§ Mr. IsaacsI assume that the hon. Member refers to a claimant whose appeal against my decision that his disablement is neither attributable to nor aggravated by service in the Forces has been rejected by the independent statutory Pensions Appeal Tribunal. Under Section 6 (3) of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act, 1943, the decision of the Tribunal is final and conclusive and there is no power to authorise a re-hearing.