§ Sir J. CORYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the delays in settling the claims of officers' widows to alternative pensions; and whether he will cause to be altered the notice sent out to the widows with regard to these pensions so that it may be brought to the applicants' knowledge that the alternative pension is only payable from the date of the claim and not from the date of the eligibility for pension and thus prevent the postponement in so many cases of claims for alternative pensions until the amount of the flat-rate pension has been settled?
§ Major TRYONI am not aware that there is any unavoidable delay in settling the claims of officers' widows to alternative pensions, having regard to the difficulties frequently experienced in the verification of pre-war earnings. With regard to the remainder of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave on the 22nd instant to the hon. Member for Lincoln, a copy of which I am sending to him.