§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will investigate the circumstances attending the reduction by 56W his Department of the need pension to Mrs. Gardner, 6, Glebelaads Avenue, Newbury Park, reference No 11/88/33,871, on the assumption that she may be eligible for a widow's pension under the Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts; whether he is aware that this creates hardships as, owing to pressure of business upon the old age pensions Department, cases are not disposed of for a considerable period after application; and whether he will instruct his Department's officers not to take into consideration contributory scheme cases until the cases are settled and the award actually given and received?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSThe procedure referred to by my hon. Friend is applied where it is known that a claim to pension under the Contributory Pensions Act has been made or where it can be made in sufficient time to ensure payment at the due date I am not aware of any hardship having resulted from the adoption of this procedure; on the contrary I consider that it is to the real advantage of the pensioner since it prevents overpayments which would require to be recovered. In the particular case referred to, I am informed that a pension under the Contributory Pensions Act has in fact been in issue since 1st July, the earliest date at which it could be granted.