NAVAL AND MILITARY PENSIONS AND GRANTS.

HC Deb 11 March 1940 vol 358 cc838-9W

Captain Anstruther-Gray

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will give an assurance that in the consideration of claims for hardship allowances there will be no discrimination between soldiers who are called up and those who volunteer?

Sir W. Womersley

In advising me with regard to applications for grants in relief of hardship, the War Service Grants Advisory Committee does not discriminate between men who have been called up and those who have volunteered for service during the war.

Sir J. Nall

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the particulars given on the appropriate form by disabled ex-service men requiring treatment, and the replies given to Question 10 of the form completed by men requiring repairs or renewals of their artificial equipment, furnish a reliable guide to the extent of employment or unemployment of such men; and whether he will have the figures extracted and circulated?

Sir W. Womersley

The particulars given on the two forms quoted are relevant only to the particular purpose for which those forms are in use for the relatively few cases that now require a course of treatment or renewal of an artificial limb, and could in no way furnish a guide to the extent of employment or unemployment among disabled men.

Mr. Garro Jones

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that serious delays are occurring in the settlement of payments to Aberdeen trawler-men entitled to compensation arising out of enemy attacks by aircraft; that in such cases ordinary friendly society benefits are not payable, so that men without resources owing to a long period of depression in the industry have, in many cases, been driven to apply for public assistance; and whether he will take immediate action to rectify this maladministration?

Sir W. Womersley

I am aware that some delay occurred in January owing to a variety of causes, such as delays in making application and delays in the post. I am, however, supplementing the arrangements of that section of my Department which deals with these cases in order to expedite matters so far as possible. I would add that I am informed that no case of the kind has in fact applied for public assistance in Aberdeen.