§ Mr. Haleasked the Secretary of State for War (1) whether he is aware that the Chadderton ex-soldier who has been refused payment of pension increment after 24 years' service on the ground that his declared age on attestation was given as 18-plus instead of 19-plus did correctly state his date of birth as shown in his paybook and the error was one of computation by the officer filling in the attestation form; and what action he proposes to take in this particular case;
(2) whether he is aware that a Chadderton ex-soldier, whose name has been supplied to him, has been refused payment of pension increment on reaching age of 60 on the ground that a higher authority has ruled that his age must be computed by reference to his attestation form, and not his birth certificate; who is the higher authority referred to; and what action he proposes to take in respect of this general ruling.
§ Mr. ProfumoI am consider this case further and will write to the hon. Member very shortly.