§ Mr. R. J. Taylorasked the Minister of Pensions the number of recipients of flat-rate pensions under the Royal Warrant of the last war; and the amount paid to date.
§ Mr. PalingThe total number of flat rate pensions awarded was 104,000, of which approximately 44,000 were still in payment on 31st March last. The estimated cost of these pensions to date is £25, 800,000.
§ Sir L. Lyleasked the Minister of Pensions what representations he has recently received that the present scale of pensions is insufficient in relation to the high cost of living to ensure a reasonable standard of life for wounded men, especially those who are permanently crippled and find it difficult to earn a livelihood.
§ Mr. PalingSince the introduction last year of the special supplement which is made to the standard rate of pension in cases where the pensioner is so seriously disabled by his pensionable disablement942W as to be unemployable, for which purpose any earnings of 20s. od. a week or less are disregarded, there have been few complaints as to the adequacy of the pension scale for disabled members of the Forces.
Mr. R. Duckworthasked the Minister of Pensions how many applications for pensions have been received from Service men discharged for gastric troubles; and how many of these have been granted.
§ Mr. Paling:The cases of all members discharged from the Forces as invalids are considered by my Department without any application from the member concerned. Up to the end of March, 1944, pension had been awarded for disabilities in the gastro-intestinal group in over 25,000 cases.