HC Deb 09 December 1943 vol 395 cc1154-6W
Sir I. Fraser

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of an officer's widow who did not receive a gratuity because the officer, who had been wounded in Malta, was not killed in action but subsequently died from exhaustion after being torpedoed on the ship on which he was being transported from the island; and whether he will alter his regulations to clear up this and similar anomalies?

Sir W. Womersley

I have been unable to find any record of this officer having been wounded in Malta and he was on passage to England for entirely different reasons. The refusal of a gratuity in addition to the pension which is being paid to his widow is not based on the fact that he was a passenger on the ship, but on the fact that the circumstances which led to his being on the ship were not brought about by Service requirements.

Mr. Bull

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will consider basing war service grants on the present needs of dependants and not entirely on the pre-enlistment earnings of the serving man?

Mr. Paling

It is not the practice to assess a grant solely on pre-enlistment earnings. Regard is also had to the available resources of the family and the actual commitments. Moreover the minimum standard for maintenance of 18s. a unit, after payment of standing commitments, applies even where the pre-enlistment earnings were below that standard.

Mr. Bull

asked the Minister of Pensions whether the view is still held by his Department that the subsistence figures of 18s. per adult per week and 9s. per child per week, used as a basis of assessing war service grants, are adequate or whether he proposes to recommend considerable increases in these figures in the immediate future?

Mr. Paling

The evidence before me does not lead me to the conclusion that the existing minimum standard of 18s. a unit as applied by my Department for purposes of war service grants is inadequate. But the matter is kept under review in the light of circumstances.

Mr. Buchanan

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that T. Inglis, 114, Florence Street, Glasgow, is receiving a pension of 8s. weekly; that he is unable to follow his employment at present owing to his injury; and if he is aware that this man will become a charge on Poor Law; and whether he will take steps to reconsider the case?

Sir W. Womersley

I am looking into this case and will write to the hon. Member.

Mr. Buchanan

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mrs. McGuinness, 13, Thistle Street, Glasgow, has been refused a pension for her son, Thomas McGuinness, who was drowned while on service in the merchant ship "Maritima"; that this boy was bathing at the time of his death but was in the employment of the Merchant Navy; and whether he will take steps to have this case reconsidered?

Sir W. Womersley

I regret that I am unable to reverse the decision in this case, the reasons for which have already been explained to the hon. Member in writing.

Mr. Dobbie

asked the Minister of Pensions why men who have been conscripted from their normal employment to membership of the N.F.S. and who, because of a loss in wages by such transfer causing hardship obtain a war service grant to help to overcome the hardship entailed, have such war service grant stopped when they are directed by the Government to work of a national service character on munitions, although their wages are lessened by this change in employment; and will he take steps to remove this anomaly?

Mr. Paling

Men enrolled in the N.F.S. under the National Service Act, 1941, are eligible for a war service grant so long as they remain full time paid members of such service. A grant is not, however, payable in supplementation of ordinary wages.