§ Sir H. WEBBasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that the pension of the invalid daughter of a man who was killed in the War ceased on the daughter attaining the age of 21 years, although such daughter was suffering from paralysis and her state of health had not improved, and although she is incapable of earning her own living; and whether, he proposes to take any steps to remedy this hardship?
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Mr. ROBERTSCases of this nature do not come within the scope of the Royal Warrant, but I am considering whether any arrangements can otherwise be made to meet the position.
§ Mr. LUMLEYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that a large number of dependants' pensions have been altered recently on the ground that their former assessment for the dependence was erroneous; that in no case yet have the investigations referred to been known to bring about an increase of pension; that the use of the term erroneous has caused uncertainty and misgiving amongst pensioners who never know when their pension will be reduced owing to the discovery of some former error by the Ministry; and whether he will consider the issue of instructions forbidding any further reductions on the ground of erroneous assessment?
Mr. ROBERTSIt is not the case that, as a result of the investigation which was conducted during the past financial year into the assessment for pre-War dependence pension, there are no instances in which pension was increased. Wherever increase was, on the facts, found to be justifiable, it was given. I am bound by my financial responsibility as Minister to correct definite errors of fact when they are brought to my notice, but I am glad to be able to inform the hon. Member that the systematic re-investigation of pensions of the class referred to was finally brought to a close by the 31st March last.