HC Deb 28 May 1918 vol 106 cc670-3W
Mr. HERBERT SAMUEL

on 1st May asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action has been taken by the Government with respect to each of the recommendations in the Third Report of the Select Committee on National Expenditure for the Session of 1917 and in the First and Second Reports of the Committee for the Session of 1918, and with respect to the recommendations in paragraph 17 of the First Report of 1917, repeated in paragraph 34 of the Second Report of 1917, and in paragraphs 38, 44, 57, 62, 64, 65, and80 in the Second Report of 1917; if he will state what progress has been made by the Committees appointed in pursuance of the recommendations in paragraphs 15 (3) and 33 (2) of that Report; and what appointments, if any, have been made in pursuance of the recommendation in paragraph 15 (1).

Mr. BONAR LAW

has circulated the following statement with reference to the Second Report for the Session of 1918, supplementing the reply given by him on 2nd May, 1918:—

Recommendations of Committee Action Taken.
has suffered; except where the slight increase in physical disability does in fact cause a serious decrease in earning capacity. the Minister does not see his way now to ask for power to introduce the principle recommended by the Committee. Where, however, on the occasion of the review of a conditional pension the Medical Board are able to say that the effect of the aggravation due to service has passed away, the pension is not renewed.
3. That where a man claims that his health has been worsened by service, some evidence should be required that this is the case, or that the conditions under which he has served have been such as to justify that presumption; it should not be Assumed to be so merely because good evidence cannot be adduced to the contrary. In cases of real doubt, the benefit should be given to the man. 3. Steps are now being taken to secure careful medical examination of the papers in all those classes of cases where there are reasonable grounds for doubt. Unless it is clear that there is a balance of evidence that the disability is not due to service or has not been aggravated by it, the benefit of the doubt will be given to the man.
4. That the administration of Article 9 of the Royal Warrant, which allows a claim to be made for a pension at any future time on the ground that health had been injuriously affected during the present War, should be carefully and continuously watched by the Treasury. The existing practice with respect to the records obtained of the men's physical condition on discharge and the means of securing identification, should be reviewed. 4. The Treasury will watch this as suggested by the Committee. In cases arising under Article 9 the onus of proof that any disability, on account of which pension is claimed, was due to military service, clearly falls on the man. The Minister of Pension has under consideration the best means for securing the identification of claimants in such cases and for preventing personation.
5. That adequate local inquiries should be made into a man's medical history prior to his military service, before any steps are taken to decide whether a pension should be granted on the ground of deterioration of health due to service. 5. Pension claims are received now at the rate of over 1,000 a day. Of these, one half are in medical cases. If local inquiries such as those suggested by the Select Committee were undertaken in each case before the grant of a conditional pension, long delay and the issue of temporary allowances, exceeding in most cases the pension rate, would result. Moreover, in many cases there can be no doubt as to the question of attributability. Such inquiries are, however, made in cases where the disability or its increase is adjudged not to be due to service and the man appeals against this decision.
6. That the procedure for selecting cases for further review at Chelsea, Hospital should be revised. 6. The procedure for selecting cases for further review at Chelsea is constantly under consideration. The medical staff there has been increased and a greater proportion of cases are sent to them for such review.
7. That officers, either attached to the Board of Customs and Excise or of similar standing, should be appointed for the purpose of assisting in the examination of claims which will come before local committees. 7 and 8. These recommendations have been most carefully considered by the Treasury and the Ministry of Pensions, but it is not deemed advisable to adopt them.

Recommendations of Committee. Action Taken.
8. That an officer appointed by the Treasury should appear before the Appeal Tribunal to assist in the elucidation of the facts of each case.
9. That local inquiries should be made in all cases in which a separation allowance of more than 7s. 6d. a week is to be converted into a pension. 9. The question of making local inquiries in all cases in which a separation allowance of more than 7s. 6d. a week is to be converted into a pension is under consideration by the Minister.
10. That the constitution of admission medical boards should be reconsidered, with a view to the interests of the Ministry of Pensions being represented. 10. This question has not yet been taken up by the Ministry of National Service, but that Department ha sat the instance of the Ministry of Pensions been giving special consideration to the question of avoiding as far as possible the admission of men into the Service likely presently to become subjects for pensions, and has issued to its boards instructions with regard to it.
11. That the observations of the Director of Finance of the Ministry should always be invited before any decision on a matter of financial importance is arrived at by the Minister. 11. The observations of the Director of Finance of the Ministry are now always invited before any decision on a matter of financial importance is arrived at by the Minister.
12. That the organisation of pensions administration in Ireland should be reviewed. 12. The further control of the work now done by local war pensions committees in Ireland awaits the passing of the Bill of which the Minister has given notice in Parliament.
13. That the Ministry's Estimates should be presented to Parliament. 13. On 16th April, 1918, a statement in some detail of the estimated expenditure of the Ministry of Pensions was laid before Parliament [Cd. 9031].