Mr. RICHARDSONasked the Minister of Pensions what was the total economy effected in the 12 months ending 31st December, 1923, by the reductions made in the pensions of parents and dependants after review; and whether he will arrange that any further review of parents' and dependants' pensions shall be made by the area War Pensions Committee?
§ Major TRYONAs I informed the House yesterday, the result of the review is that only one in ten of the 330,000 pensions to dependent parents and others in issue has been affected, and the net result as regards the expenditure on dependants' pensions, which amounts to over £8,000,000 a year, is a reduction in the present year of about £85,000, or about 1 per cent. of the total cost. The review will be finished within the next few weeks, and in these circumstances it would scarcely be practicable to make400W any such change as is suggested in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. HINDLEasked the Minister of Pensions how many dependants' pensions have been altered during the last six months in the north-western regional area owing to an error in the original assessment; and how many of these alterations have involved a reduction in the pension?
§ Major TRYONIn approximately 3,600 cases a reduction of the pension has been made, after re-investigation, during the past six months. There are approximately 50,000 pensions to parents in issue in the north-western region.
§ Mr. GAVAN DUFFYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the pension of 18s. per week granted to Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, of 25, Bank Yard Road, Parton, Cumberland, in respect of the death of her son, Lance-Corporal James Mitchell, No. 1178, has been terminated on the death of the said Elizabeth Mitchell, and that consequently Elspeth Mitchell, sister of the late Lance-Corporal James Mitchell, who is permanently crippled and unable to do any work, is left wholly without resources; and, having regard to the fact that she was wholly dependent upon her late brother, will he arrange that a substantial part of the pension hitherto given to her mother, and from which she was maintained, should now be awarded to Elspeth Mitchell?
§ Major TRYONThere is no provision in the Royal Warrant under which the suggested transfer of the pension awarded to the late soldier's mother could be made.