§ Mr. GOULDasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the note included by his Department to pensioners who have been awarded a final weekly allowance, to the effect that they can appeal through the local committee to a medical appeal board within two months of the date of their notification, contains the words, "You must clearly understand that it is open to a medical appeal board not only to raise your assessment if satisfied that you have substantiated your claim, but also to lower it if, in their opinion, it is already too high"; and whether he is aware that in many cases the pensioner refuses to appeal for fear that, as a consequence, the medical board may lower his pension?
§ Major TRYONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I think my hon. Friend will agree that512W it is in the best interests of the pensioner that he should be fully acquainted with the powers of medical appeal boards.