§ Mr. L. M. Leverasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance the numbers of war pensioners of the 1914–18 war assessed at 40 per cent. or more disability who died last year before reaching 65 years of age and without qualifying for the age allowance; and whether, in view of the high proportion of pre-65 deaths, he will now reduce the qualifying age for the age allowance to ensure that all who have borne severe disabilities for more than 40 years since the 1914–18 war qualify for the allowance.
Mr. VaneIt is estimated that the number was about between 1,600 and 1,700.
As regards the second part of the Question, my right hon. Friend does not feel that since the age allowance was introduced in 1957 there has been any change in the position which would justify a lower age of eligibility. Indeed the average age of men disabled in the 1914–18 war is now about 68 and the number of allowances in payment has been increasing at the rate of about a thousand a quarter and at the end of 1959 it was over 64,000. As the hon. Member knows, the allowance is not confined to men who served in the 1914–18 war.
§ Mr. L. M. Leverasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will indicate the purchasing value of the present basic rate of war pension of 85s., as compared with the 40s. in payment in 1938; and what steps he proposes to take to restore the purchasing value of war disability pensions.
Mr. VaneOn the basis of the Cost of Living Index to 1947 and the Retail Prices Index since, the amount now required to equal the purchasing value of 40s. in 1938 is 87s. 9d.
The hon. Member is, however, no doubt aware that the 100 per cent. rate of disability pension which was payable to a man injured in 1938 was 32s. 6d., equivalent on the same basis as above to 71s. 4d. now.
The value, however, of such comparisons in respect of the real value of the pension is small when account is taken of the wide variety of allowances which have been introduced to meet various 169W needs of pensioners since 1938, most of which have been very substantially increased in recent years. Account also requires to be taken of the very different background of general social services. The rate of pension is, of course, kept under constant review.
§ Mr. L. M. Leverasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance if he will increase the annual allowance for wear and tear of clothing payable to war pensioner amputees so that it might more reasonably compensate them for the additional purchases of clothing resulting directly from artificial limb wearing.
Mr. VaneSince the rates of this allowance were last increased, in 1955, there has been no appreciable rise in the Retail Prices Index figure covering the cost of clothing. My right hon.
Appointed Subject Chairman Total number of Members Members of Parliament Time to report (in months) December, 1955 Common Land … Sir Ivor Jennings, K.B.E., Q.C. 12 None 31 March, 1957 Remuneration of Doctors and Dentists Sir Harry Pilkington … 9 None 35 December, 1959 Police … … … The Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Willink, Bt., M.C., Q.C. 15 2 Not yet reported I have consulted my right hon. Friends and they have brought to my attention the following Committees of Inquiry
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Appointed Subject Chairman Total number of Members Members of Parliament Time to report (in months) January, 1955 Development of Pig Production in the United Kingdom. Sir Harold Howitt, G.B.E., D.S.O., M.C. 7 None 8 February, 1955 Number of Future Medical Practitioners and Medical Students Required. The Rt. Hon. Sir Henry Willink, Bt., M.C., Q.C. 11 None 31 March, 1955 Recruitment to the Dental Profession. Sir Arnold McNair (now Lord McNair), C.B.E., Q.C. 11 None 19 March, 1955 Endorsement of Cheques Mr. Alan A. Mocatta, O.B.E., Q.C. 5 None 17 March, 1955 Horticultural Marketing Viscount Runciman of Doxford, O.B.E., A.F.C. 7 None 21 June, 1955 Forest of Dean … … Sir Thomas Creed, K.B.E., M.C., Q.C. 4 None 39 June, 1955 Exchequer Equalisation Grants in Scotland (Second Investigation). Mr. J. Nixon Browne, C.B.E., M.P. (now Lord Craigton). 18 1 4 June, 1955 Need for a Wages Council for the Rubber Proofed Garment Making Industry. Professor H. S. Kirkaldy, C.B.E. 7 None 9 Friend is, however, watching the position closely.