§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that in more than one case in the Bristol district widows have been informed that their need pensions would be reduced on the ground that a son, or an adopted son, must be regarded as a potential contributor towards the widow's support; and whether, seeing that in each case the potential contributor is unemployed and without financial means, and that there is no immediate prospect of securing work, he will cause the official decision in each case to be reviewed?
§ Major TRYONAn exceptional case in which unemployment was due to permanent physical incapacity would be specially considered. But, as I have before pointed out, the conditions on which this class of pension is awarded, and on which alone awards can be stabilised, are based on the support which the deceased son, along with other sons, would reasonably be expected to give as a regular matter, and do not admit of readjustments of the liability of the State in accordance with merely temporary fluctuations of circumstance.