§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Pensions the percentage of persons discharged as medically unfit from His Majesty's Forces who have been granted pensions since the outbreak of the present war?
§ Sir W. WomersleyAwards have been made by my Department to 32 per cent. of the persons claiming pension on discharge from His Majesty's Forces as medically unfit during the whole period since the outbreak of the war: the percentage at the present time is about 65.
§ Sir R. Glynasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from retired officers as to the difficult position in which they are placed owing to the increase in the cost of living and the fact that unlike other classes of His Majesty's subjects no adjustment has been made to increase their pensions, although a promise was made some time ago that this question would be reviewed periodically; and whether, in view of the position of retired officers of all services, he will consider the appointment of a committee to inquire into the whole matter with a view to effecting the necessary adjustments based on the cost-of-living figure so that the pledge to consider this question periodically may be implemented?
§ Sir K. WoodI am not aware of any pledge to adjust the current rates of officers' retired pay in accordance with increases in the cost of living. On the contrary, the consolidation of Service Retired pay which took place in 1935 was effected in pursuance of the Government decision that the pay and pensions of Crown Servants in general should no longer be subject to cost-of-living adjustments. That decision accords with the current policy of the Government as set out in Cmd. 6294. There has been no increase in the pensions of State servants as a whole, and I can find no ground on which retired Service officers could be selected for exceptional treatment.