§ Mr. MARCHasked the Treasurer of the Household whether he has received a statement of claim for a pension from Mr. J. Mooney, case 2/7,089, of 86, High 2529W Street, Poplar; whether he is aware that this is the third application made by Mooney to have his case placed before the appeals tribunal; and when the case is likely to be heard by the tribunal, because for the last six months Mooney has had to be kept by the Poplar Board of Guardians in their institution?
§ Colonel GIBBSTwo appeals against decisions of the Ministry of Pensions have reached the pensions appeal tribunals from Mr. J. Mooney. The first appeal for chronic bronchitis came be-bore a tribunal in July, 1923, but was not heard owing to the fact that the notice of hearing sent to Mr. Mooney at the address supplied by him to the Ministry of Pensions was returned through the Dead Letter Office and subsequent endeavours by the pensions appeal tribunals to get into touch with Mr. Mooney were unsuccessful.
The second appeal for chronic nephritis came before a tribunal in 1924. At the hearing Mr. Mooney stated that he did not wish to make any claim for nephritis and signed a form withdrawing this appeal. It is understood that a-third appeal has been lodged by Mr. Mooney with the Ministry of Pensions and that the Ministry are now preparing the case for submission to the tribunals.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the anxiety felt by appellants against the decisions of the Ministry, owing to the delays which elapse between the lodging and hearing of appeals: and whether steps can be taken for speeding tip the process?
§ Major TRYONThe average time occupied between the lodging and the hearing of an appeal on entitlement is about nine weeks. Of this period, about one-half is, I understand, dependent on the administrative arrangements of the appeal tribunals. It will be understood that in the interests of appellants, cases are sometimes adjourned for medical examination or other evidence to be obtained. So far as regards the period prior to the despatch of the case to the tribunal, the Ministry invariably consider, in the interests of appellants, any fresh evidence produced on appeal, in order to determine whether the case can be accepted without the necessity of the2530W appeal being heard. Every effort is made to reduce the period occupied, and if I find that the period can be reduced in any direction without prejudice to the interests of appellants I am prepared to do so.
§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Pensions the number of final awards in respect of which the last date of appeal was 6th February, 1924; how many of the recipients have appealed to the tribunal and had their claims rejected because they were out of date; and what was the number whose applications were refused by the area officers on the ground that they were out of date before the Ministry Regulations permitted cases to go to the appeal tribunal for rejection on the ground that the appeal was out of date?
§ Major TRYONI regret that the figures asked for in this question are not on record in my Department. I may state, however, that the total number of out-of-date appeals made to the Assessment Appeal Tribunals in respect of all classes of final awards, including statutory awards and final awards made since the passing of the Act of 1921, which have been rejected by the tribunals is 5,231.