§ Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Pensions if he proposes to bring in a new Royal Warrant to provide pensions for men and their dependants discharged from the Services suffering from cancer and tuberculosis and to make the pensions payable to the widows and children of men killed in the war of the same amount as the allowances paid for wives and children of Servicemen.
Mr. PalingThe conditions for the award of pension in the Royal Warrant are common to all disabilities and I could not accept the hon. Member's suggestion that particular disabilities should be 823W singled out for special treatment. I would remind the hon. Member that, as my predecessor informed him on 17th May last, the great majority of claims in respect of tuberculosis are in fact admitted. When the pensions payable to widows and children were increased some 15 months ago the revised rates were regarded as reasonable in relation to the new allowances then introduced for serving men. I am, however, keeping in mind the view expressed by the hon. Member.