§ Sir H. Williamsasked the Minister of Health whether he has any statement to make in respect of the case, to which his attention has been drawn, where an application was made for an old age pension in March, and a postcard acknowledgment sent in April, to a reminder sent on 28th May, when the applicant had reached the age of 65, a further postcard acknowledgment was sent; in response to a letter written on 1st July, no postcard acknowledgment was sent until 7th July; and whether steps can be taken to make the insurance department of the Ministry of Health carry out its duties with more expedition?
: I find that the claim to which my hon. FriendMiss Horsbrughrefers was received in the Department on 29th March.
808WThe applicant did not submit a copy of his birth certificate with his claim, and it was accordingly necessary for the Department to verify his age from official records as well as to obtain particulars of his insurance history from his Approved Society. The necessary inquiries were recently completed, and the applicant was notified on the 9th July that he had been awarded a pension from his 65th birthday (28th May). I can assure my hon. Friend that everything possible is done to ensure that there shall be no avoidable delay in the settlement of claims. I should, however, point out that it is open to an applicant for an old age pension to make his claim four months in advance of the date on which he attains pension-able age, and it is particularly desirable that full advantage should be taken of this opportunity, in view of the difficulties created by war conditions.