§ Mr. Loveridgeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases during the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 he has exercised his discretion under Article 65 of the Royal Warrant to backdate increases in war disablement pensions, prior to the dates the applicants made their first successful appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.
§ Mr. DeanThe number of successful assessment appeals in 1969, 1970 and 1971 was 287, 306 and 444 respectively, of which only about 20 per cent. were not made in due time. The information re quested about these cases is not readily available but my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State exercises his discretion under Article 65 to backdate an increase in pension prior to the date of appeal for an out of time appeal in the exceptional circumstances where the pensioner has been prevented by physical or mental incapacity from making his appeal earlier, or where there has been Departmental error or misdirection. Where an appeal is made in due time—that is, within three months of the notification of an interim assessment award, or within 12 months of a final award—payment of any in crease is backdated to the commencement of that award.
§ Mr. Meacherasked the Secretary of State for Social Services at the latest available date, how many persons were in receipt of disablement pension on the basis of having contracted one of the 208W prescribed industrial diseases, both in total and in the case of each of these diseases, respectively.
§ Mr. DeanAt 30th September, 1970, the latest date for which figures are available 50,760 persons were in receipt of disablement pension for prescribed diseases, 42,700 for pneumoconiosis, 3,430 for byssinosis and 4,630 for the other diseases. Figures for individual prescribed diseases other than pneumoconiosis and byssinosis are not available.