§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement indicating whether his Department has given any consideration to reducing restrictions upon former Merchant Navy personnel, who are in receipt of a war disablement pension and of unemployability supplement arising from the operation of the earnings rule.
§ Mr. RossiNo changes are contemplated. There are no special restrictions on former Merchant Navy personnel. War disablement pensions are not subject to an earnings rule, and an unemployable war disablement pensioner may still receive unemployability supplement if he earns £780 or less.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements have been made since 1945 for former Merchant Navy personnel in receipt of war disablement pensions to share in the expanded national wealth other than to keep pace with inflation.
§ Mr. RossiSince 1945, the principal war pension rates have been increased many times and their real value has approximately doubled.
§ Mr. Clinton Davisasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many former Merchant Navy personnel are in receipt of a war disablement pension awarded as a result of service during the 1939–45 war; and, of these, how many are assessed at 100 per cent., 90 per cent. and 80 per cent., respectively.
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§ Mr. Rossi1,530 in total. Details are not kept of the disablement assessments of former Merchant Navy personnel as such but we would estimate that about 10 per cent. of them are assessed at 80 per cent. or more.