§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the fact that his undertaking to review all cases submitted to him, even though they are barred by the seven-years' limit, means that the review of such cases will cease with his administration, he will reconsider the abolition of the limit so that cases of injustice may be reviewed at any future time?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSI presume my hon. Friend is referring to the reply which I gave him on the 9th instant. I see no reason from past experience of pensions administration to anticipate that whatever scheme the Government may decide to adopt for dealing with these eases will not form part of the permanent practice of the Ministry.
§ Mr. BAKERasked the Minister of Pensions the number of pension cases submitted to the Ministry after the statutory period had elapsed during each of the past five years, and the number of such cases in each of the aforesaid years in which pensions were awarded despite the lateness of the claim?
§ Mr. ROBERTSThe precise information asked for in the question is not available. With regard to the latter part of the question I may say, however, that the total number of cases in which pensions have been awarded under special sanction to disabled officers and men, whose applications were made more than seven years after discharge, was, up to the end of last month, 462, of which 149 were granted in the year ended June, 1928, and 199 in the past 12 months.