§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Pensions Minister how many applications he has received for assistance from the King's Fund; in how many cases assistance has been given; and what are the general principles governing all the decisions on applications for aid?
§ Sir J. CRAIGApplications are not received by the Minister, but, up to the 29th ultimo, 45,629 applications had been received by the trustees, and 15,394 grants have been made. Of this balance the large majority are cases awaiting further investigation by the local committees. The general principles governing the decisions are that the officer or man must have suffered disability through war service, and that his application must be supported by the local committee (or, in the case of an officer, by a member of the Ministry's inspectorate). In other respects, each case is considered by the trustees and decided by them entirely on its merits.