HC Deb 04 March 1919 vol 113 c243W
Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Pensions Minister whether he can now make any statement upon arrangements which have been made for the decentralisation of much of the work of his Department?

Sir J. CRAIG

I do not know to what arrangements my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the conflict of various Departments in admitting responsibility for individual claims for pensions, whereby the claimants are unable to secure a definite decision one way or the other; and whether he will consider the possibility of the Ministry of Pensions exercising a prompt overriding decision in all these cases?

Mr. BONAR LAW

There is no conflict between Departments in taking responsibility for claims for pensions, but my hon. Friend will realise that before any pension can be awarded the Government must satisfy itself as to a man's service record and this necessarily means correspondence between Departments.