War Pensioners

HC Deb 17 November 1958 vol 595 cc91-2W

1. Mr. Simmons

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war disability pensioners who, being assessed at 40 per cent. disablement or more and aged 65 years or over, now qualify for the age allowance, the numbers of such pensioners who do not receive the allowance because they are under 65 years of age, and the additional cost of granting the age allowance to all the severely disabled pensioners of the 1914–18 war.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The number of pensioners receiving the age allowance on 27th September was 58,800. including 55,000 of the 1914–18 war. About 56,000 pensioners of the 1914–18 war with assessments of 40 per cent. or more were not receiving the allowance because they were under 65 years of age. As regards the last part of the Question, the estimated additional cost is about £1,100,000 a year in respect of the 1914–18 war pensioners, plus £200,000 in respect of 1939–45 war pensioners of the same age and with the same assessments.

2. Mr. Simmons

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war pensioners assessed at 40 per cent. or more disability who have died during the last twelve months and who were under 65 years of age at the time of death.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five during the twelve months ended 27th September last.

3. Mr. Simmons

asked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of 1914–18 war pensioners whose assessments have been reviewed during the past twelve months, and the numbers of those whose awards have been increased to take account of deterioration or consequential disabilities; and whether he will take steps to review thoroughly the cases of all elderly and severely disabled war pensioners to ensure that they receive all to which they are eligible under existing provisions.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

About 6,100 of these cases were reviewed and in some 2,060 of these the awards were increased. Last year all 1914–18 disablement pensioners were individually sent a special leaflet in which they were reminded of my Department's willingness to review their cases if their war disablement had become worse.