§ Mr. Ellisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will not now proceed with the review of the hardship pension allowance of Mr. G. Coles, in view of the fact that this case has been reviewed three times already and the facts have not changed.
§ Mr. EnnalsThe question whether a person satisfies the conditions for entitlement to special hardship allowance under the Industrial Injuries Act is for decision by the independent statutory authorities; an insurance officer in the first instance, or on appeal, the local tribunal and, finally, the National Insurance Commissioner. Neither the Secretary of State, nor I have power to interfere with their decisions.
As I explained to my hon. Friend in my letter to him of 14th March, Mr. Coles has appealed against the insurance officer's latest decision on his claim for special hardship allowance and I have undertaken to let him know the outcome of the appeal as soon as I can.