§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will favourably consider applications for the commutation of life disability pensions in cases where such pensions are small and the recipients out of work, but able to show that such a lump sum payment would set them up in businesses of their own?
§ Mr. RamsbothamThe statutory regulations governing commutation do not permit me to commute any part of a Great War disability pension of 16s. a week or less. Subject to the terms of these regulations commutation would be allowed in any case where the Ministry was satisfied that the pensioner could be set up in a business in which his experience gave a reasonable guarantee of success. I may say, however, that in the experience of my Department it is rarely to the permanent advantage of a pensioner to sacrifice any part of his secure life pension for the purpose of establishing himself in a new business.