§ Mr. Haleasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance (1) whether he is aware that the Chadderton man, whose name had been supplied to him, and who is 82 years of age, confined to the house by illness following a stroke, and suffering from cataracts on the eyes, has had a reclaim for alleged overpayment of benefit on the ground that the insurance officer is not satisfied that he used due care and diligence to avoid overpayment; and if he will investigate this case with a view to appropriate action;
(2) whether he is aware that the Chadderton man, whose name has been supplied to him, who is 82 years of age and in very poor health, has been informed that he will forfeit 35s. per week 198W as dependant's allowance on the grounds that his wife, who is working for a few hours a week as a home help, has had a rise of approximately 3s. a week; and if he will investigate this case with a view to enabling the allowance to continue undiminished.
§ Mr. N. MacphersonI am aware of the circumstances of this case in which the insurance officer, the first of the independent authorities appointed to decide claims under the National Insurance Acts, has decided that there has been an over-payment of increase of benefit for the claimant's wife and that repayment is required. I cannot interfere with this decision, but the claimant has, of course, a right of appeal to the local tribunal against it. I am writing to the hon. Member fully about the matter.