§ Mr. PERRYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the Ministry have issued instructions to expedite the review of all dependants' pensions by the 31st March next, and that this instruction precludes any investigation of the present pecuniary circumstances of the parent and household on account of the large number of cases to be dealt with by the 31st March; and whether, in view of the fact that dependants' pensions were in the first place assessed after careful investigation 1553W by competent permanent officials of the Customs and Excise Department, namely, the old age pensions officers and confirmed by the local old age pensions committees, and that this action has led to distress in a. great many cases, he will consider withdrawing the instructions which preclude proper investigation of cases under the present circumstances
Mr. MUIRI would refer the hon. Member to the answers given on this subject to the hon. Member for Middles-brough West (Mr. T. Thomson) on the 12th February and to the hon. Member for Bristol East (Mr. Baker) on the 18th February, of which I am sending him copies. I may add that the review is limited to pensions based upon pre-War dependence and does not embrace pensions granted on the ground of pecuniary need and incapacity which the hon. Member appears to have in mind.