§ Mr. Dodds-Parkerasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the printed form, MPP 203D, which is sent by his Department accompanying an intimation that an original application for a disability pension has been rejected, states that there is no time limit to the right to appeal and does not indicate that delay in lodging an appeal will result in financial prejudice to the applicant; that the fixing of a time limit of six months in regard to the entitlement of the applicant to arrears without any previous intimation that such a limit exists is unjust to ex-Service personnel; and if he will take steps to have the time limit removed.
§ Mr. Wilfred PalingIn order to comply with Section 9 of the Pensions Appeal Tribunals Act, 1943, form MPB.203D states that there is at present no time limit for appeal. It does, however, tell the claimant that, if he intends to appeal, it would be in his own interests to do so without much delay. In my opinion, a man who has been told of his right of appeal against my decision to an independent statutory tribunal can reasonably be expected to exercise that right within six months if he feels that my decision is wrong and that he should be receiving a pension. If the hon. Member366W has in mind any particular case in which the present practice in regard to arrears has caused hardship, I shall be glad to look into it.