§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individual claims for war pensions are currently outstanding; what is the average interval from receipt of application to decision; and what was the comparable figure in each of the previous five years.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardAt 9 March 1990 there were 20,418 claims for war disablement pension outstanding. The average time taken to clear a claim at the end of February 1990 was 35.5 weeks. War pensions work is complex and it takes time to gather the necessary evidence often going back over 40 years; the obtaining of service documents and consultants' reports in particular take considerable time. Comparable figures for each of the previous five financial years were:
weeks 1988–89 29.5 1987–88 27.3 1986–87 42.4 1985–86 22.6 1984–85 20.8
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what compensation other than backdated payments is available to those allocated a war pension after more than two years has elapsed between applications and decisions.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardThere is no statutory provision for compensation when payment of a war pension or a social security benefit has been delayed. However, ex-gratia compensation can be considered in certain circumstances where there has been clear and unambiguous departmental error.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what happens to the backdated payments of war pensions if the person to be in receipt of such payments dies while his Department is processing the application.
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§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardIf a claim for war pension is under consideration when a claimant dies the arrears of any subsequent award are normally paid to his next-of-kin.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what is the longest time his Department has taken between receipt of a war pension claim and final decision to award a war pension.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI regret that the information is not available.
§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security when his Department received the 13 May 1988 application for war pension of Mr. Joseph Davies of 30 Aspley Park Drive, Aspley, Nottingham; and when he will give Mr. Davies his reply.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardMr. Davies's claim for a war pension was received on 19 May 1988. The Department's doctors advised that in order to give a decision on his claim it would be necessary for Mr. Davies to be examined by a consultant. Unfortunately, considerable difficulty has been experienced in arranging a consultant's examination, but I understand that he is now due to be seen next month. Mr. Davies will be given a decision as soon as possible after the examination. The delay in bringing this matter to a conclusion is very much regretted.