§ Mr. Bill MichieTo ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what changes he is making to the criteria by which war pensions are awarded from 1 January 1993; what is the estimated number of people likely to be affected by the new regulations; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. BurtMy right hon. Friend the Secretary of State anounced proposals to introduce, from 7 January 1993, a threshold for claims for noise-induced hearing loss bringing the war pension rules more into line with those for industrial injury awards. The effect would be that those with less than 20 per cent. disablement in respect of that condition would receive no award. No existing war pensioners with an award in respect of noise induced hearing loss would be affected. It is estimated that in 1993–94 some 10,000 new claimants would be affected.
It is also proposed that savings from this proposal be used to remove rank differential, in war disablement pensions from April 1993. Almost 200,000 war disablement pensioners would gain up to £5 a week as a result.
These proposals were discussed yesterday with the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions; the comments of committee members are under consideration.