HC Deb 01 March 1994 vol 238 c672W
Mr. Lewis

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of war pensions claims outstanding due to access being denied to records in offices closed due to the discovery of asbestos within them.

Mr. Hanley

Access to records required for the consideration of war pensions claims has been restored fully with effect from Monday 28 February 1994. There is a backlog of some 25,000 claims due to the closure of the archive and my Department will do its best to deal with them expeditiously.

Sir David Steel

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange for appropriate identity cards to be issued to war pensioners so as to enable them to make use of concessions offered both in the United Kingdom and abroad.

Mr. Hague

I have been asked to reply.

A card confirming the status of an individual as a war pensioner will be available on request from the war pensions unit by mid-1994.