§ 90. Mr. Teelingasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he is aware that Boer War disability pensioners are being told in Brighton that they do not qualify for the recent increase in war pensions; whether he will take steps to bring them into line with other pensioners immediately; and what are the total number of such cases at present alive.
§ Mr. WoodI assume that my hon. Friend refers to those pensioners, totalling about 600, whose disablement due to their South African war service is slight. These retain their original pensions, as they would not be better off by reassessment on the rates applicable to the World Wars by reference to their present degree of disablement. These pensioners do not qualify for increases when the standard disablement pension rates are increased since they are not receiving those rates, but their pensions, which took account of factors other than disablement, are subject to additions under the Pensions (Increase) Warrants. The most recent of such increases took effect from April, 1956.