§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Pensions Minister when the new model rules under the War Pensions Act, 1917, will be issued to local war pensions committees, with a view, amongst other things, to including in such committees at least two disabled men who have been discharged from His Majesty's Forces, and also a woman who is in receipt of a pension as the widow or other dependant of a man in His Majesty's Forces who has fallen in the War?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe draft model rules under the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1918,are now in the hands of the printers, and it is hoped shortly, to lay them on the Table. The inclusion in local committees of such persons as are mentioned in the question does not, however, depend upon the publication of these rules, as it was made a statutory obligation by the Naval and Military War Pensions (Committees) Act, 1917.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Pensions Minister whether new model rules under the War Pensions Act, 1917, will prohibit the appointment of conscientious objectors to any local war pensions committee?
§ Sir J. CRAIGThe model rules which are being drafted under the War Pensions (Administrative Provisions) Act, 1918, regulate the proceedings, not the personnel, of the Committee. There is no Statutory power under which the Minister of Pensions can vote the appointment of a conscientious objector to a local committee, but if in a particular case the appointment were forced on an unwilling committee, it would presumably be open to the committee to represent to the Minister, under Section 2 (1) (g) of the Act of 1918, that the removal of the member "is desirable with a view to securing the efficient discharge of the committee's functions."