HC Deb 12 July 1928 vol 219 cc2473-5W
Mr. DALTON

asked the Minister of Pensions what area War pension districts will be included in the proposed South Metropolitan area; where the chief area office and the area sub-offices will be situated; what offices will be closed or have the hours of opening reduced; what will be the farthest distance that a pensioner may be living from the area pension office; what period would elapse before he was visited by a medical officer of the Ministry in the event of making an application by post for treatment; and, in the event of there being an interval of several days, if treatment allowance will be paid from the date of application for treatment and not from the date of visitation?

Major TRYON

No South Metropolitan area is proposed. Arrangements are, however, in progress, in which the committees concerned have concurred, for the formation of a South-East Metropolitan area with headquarters in Tower Bridge Road, and the necessary sub-offices to cover the work now administered from offices in Bermondsey, Lewisham and Woolwich. The number and character of the sub-offices will be settled after consultation with the War Pensions Committees concerned, so far as this has not already been done. The farthest distance from the headquarters office of the new area will be in the Dartford district, but pensioners there will have the use of the sub office at Woolwich. Emergency arrangements for immediate medical examination apply as hitherto, and in any case applications by post would be dealt with in 48 hours. It is not considered necessary to make any change in the present arrangements for the payment of treatment allowances.

Mr. GARDNER

asked the Minister of Pensions what areas it is proposed to include in the new West Metropolitan area, where the chief area office will be situated, and the position of the area sub-offices; what whole- or part-time offices will be closed or the hours of opening reduced; and whether he will arrange for the payment of travelling expenses for pensioners visiting the area office who live more than three miles from the office?

Major TRYON

No new West Metropolitan area is at present in contemplation. The remainder of the question does not therefore arise.

Mr. CLUSE

asked the Minister of Pensions what areas are to be included in the North Metropolitan area; how many war pension offices will be closed in the districts affected; and, seeing that in some cases men may have to travel over 20 miles to visit the area office, if he will make provision for the payment of travelling expenses for pensioners living more than three miles from a war pension office?

Major TRYON

No new North Metropolitan area is at present in contemplation. The remainder of the question does not therefore arise.