§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether, now the principle of making ex gratia payments in the case of property rights has been accepted by Her Majesty's Government, he will consider the initiation of legislation to permit the making of ex gratia payments to disabled ex-service men who have failed on technical grounds to establish a claim to a pension.
§ Mr. PeakeI think my existing powers are sufficient to enable me to deal fairly with any case where a causal connection between the disability and the man's service can be established. To go further would alter the whole character of the war pensions scheme.