§ Mr. AshleyTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions to simplify the war pensions scheme; and when changes are expected to be implemented.
§ Miss WiddecombeCopies of the scrutiny report which made proposals, inter alia, for the simplification of the war pensions scheme have been given to members of the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions and various other ex-service organisations for them to comment. The report was discussed at the June meeting of the committee and will be discussed again at its next meeting on 5 December. Comments are still being received and in general they are supportive. Any changes agreed as a result of these discussions will be implemented as soon as possible. One small change, the absorption of dependency allowance into the basic war disablement pension, has already been announced to be implemented from next April following the unanimously favourable response to this improvement.