Colonel Guestasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the increases in pensions to ex-naval pensioners, as promised to take effect as from January, 1944, have now all been made; and, if not, how soon these ex-naval pensioners will receive the increases which have been promised to them under the Royal Warrant and relative Cmd. 6459.
Mr. AlexanderI regret that there are still a number of claims for percentage increases still outstanding. Progress has been hampered by difficulties in obtaining and training the necessary staff. Every endeavour has been, and is being made to settle all claims as quickly as possible, and I hope that all outstanding payments, with arrears, will have been made by the end of May. The Royal Warrant and relative Command 6459 deal with another class of pensioners, i.e., those receiving a disability pension or allowance. Naval personnel in receipt of a war pension, i.e., those covered by Command 6459, are being dealt with by the Ministry of Pensions. Naval personnel in receipt of a disability pension or an allowance under the peace-time naval code are eligible for corresponding benefits: the necessary adjustments to pensions have been made in all eligible cases; and all applications for additional allowances under the new provisions have been dealt with, except for a few recent applications at present under inquiry.