§ Mr. Pavittasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the report by the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration entitled "A war pensions injustice remedied".
§ Mr. EnnalsI have read the Parliamentary Commissioner's report with grave concern. I accept unreservedly his severe criticism of the course adopted by the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance in September 1964 which from then till 1977, caused underpayment of war pension to a small group of ex-Regular officers. I do not condone, or seek to excuse, the actions of those who took the decisions which had this result. As soon as the matters to which the report relates were brought to my attention. I set in hand full inquiries and arranged for steps to be taken to identify the individual cases affected so that full pension arrears could be paid. In view of the exceptional circumstances, I also authorised an award of ex gratia recompense for the delay. Following the examination of the ledger sheets for all 20,000 officers now receiving war pensions, 25 retired officers were found to be so affected.
Examination of the papers has shown that four middle-grade officials were involved. Three of them, including both those who took the decisions, have since retired. The fourth is working abroad. It does not appear that Ministers, or, indeed, senior management, were consulted when these events took place.
The Parliamentary Commissioner makes clear in his report that the course of action adopted in 1964 was followed thereafter, until his investigation in 1977, and he specifically refers to correspondence first with the complainant, and then with a Member of Parliament, in 1975. I have inquired into this aspect also. I find that officials at working level in the central office at Norcross where all individual cases are dealt with simply referred to, and followed, the guidance given in 1964. They regarded this as authoritative, since it had come from the war pensions policy branch in London.
I understand that the Parliamentary Commissioner did not find it necessary in 26W his investigation to interview the officials involved and he has not given their names in his report. Nor would I regard it as right to do so myself. It must be recognised that these events took place many years ago. The civil servants concerned have had no opportunity to account for their actions and would now find it difficult to assemble evidence bearing on their individual responsibility.
I have arranged for the lessons to be learned from this disturbing affair to be brought forcefully to the attention of all those currently engaged in war pensions administration. The Parliamentary Commissioner says in his report that:
From a number of cases which I have investigated I am satisfied that in recent years the Department have, in general, taken a scrupulous and indeed humane view of their responsibilities to war pensioners".I am determined that war pensions shall be administered to the highest standards of integrity.