§ Captain REDMONDasked the Minister of Pensions the number of ex-service men of the Navy and Army, respectively, in Ireland now in receipt of pensions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere are at pre sent approximately 50,000 ex-service men in Ireland in receipt of pensions awarded by my Department.
§ Captain REDMONDasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that there is delay and consequent hardship inflicted on ex-service men in Ireland owing to the fact that the Pensions Issue Office, in London, deals with the issuing of pensions, etc., to pensioners in Ireland; whether he is aware that under the present arrangement hundreds of men have to attend at the local war pensions office each day 2440W in the week, sometimes waiting in queues for six or seven hours a day, to get advances of pension pending the issue of ring papers and books from the issue office in London; and whether he will consider the establishment of a central pensions office in Ireland, and thereby put an end to the present system of inconvenience and delay?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am not aware of any delay, such as my hon. and gallant Friend suggests, in the payment of pensions in Ireland. But I would point out that my officials have to contend against great difficulties owing to the internal conditions in Ireland. The whole question is, however, at the present moment being carefully considered by the Departmental Committee which I recently appointed to enquire, amongst other matters, into the existing arrangements for the issue of pension.