§ 52. Mr. McKayasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance whether he has yet investigated the case of H. R. Kennedy's reduction in Service pension and abolition of hardship allowance, which were appealed against 16 weeks ago and about which no decision has yet been made; and whether he will hasten a decision on this matter.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI find that Mr. Kennedy's pension was reduced from the 30 per cent. to the 20 per cent. rate in January, 1957, because a medical board found that the condition of his disability had improved. His appeal to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the reduced assessment was adjourned, at the request of his adviser in November, 1957, to enable him to appeal on entitlement. I understand from the Pensions Appeal Tribunal Office that the entitlement appeal is listed for hearing on 9th June and that when this appeal is decided the outstanding assessment appeal will be re-listed. An allowance for lowered standard of occupation awarded to Mr. Kennedy was recently cancelled but this matter is being looked into further in the light of his further representations.