HC Deb 18 December 1996 vol 287 cc756-7W
Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many veterans have a disability assessed at more than 40 per cent. [8663]

Mr. Heald

Under the war pension scheme, awards may be made in respect of disablement due to service and in respect of disablement suffered by certain other groups, for example, by merchant seamen injured as a result of enemy action during the second world war. At the end of September 1996, the disablement of 106,572 war pensioners was assessed at 40 per cent. or more; 102,425 of these awards were in respect of disablement due to service in the armed forces.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security (1) what are the projected expenditure consequences arising from the implementation of each of the changes to war pensions outlined in the Budget; [8667]

(2) what savings will be made by ending the sending out of reminders to veterans to return claim forms or to seek an increase in entitlement. [8669]

Mr. Heald

The information is in the table.

Programme savings (£ million cash prices)
A minus sign indicates a cost
1997–98 1998–99 1999–2000
Automatic War widow's pension for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases -1 -1 -1
War widow's pension restoration for cohabitees negligible cost
Abolition of gratuities on remarriage/cohabitation not yet costed
Clothing allowance one rate (the higher) 0.5 0.5 -0.5
Funeral grants for 80 per cent. and Unemployability supplement cases negligible cost
Remove rank differentials for gratuities -0.5 -0.5 -0.5
Total 5 10 15

1. Estimates rounded to the nearest £0.5 million. Estimates of less than £0.25 million are given as negligible.

2. Figures may not sum to totals due to rounding.

3. All figures are estimates of savings and costs of the proposed changes designed to simplify and rationalise the war pensions scheme and which are subject to consultation with the Central Advisory Committee.

Ms Harman

To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security what consultation he held with(a) the Chief Medical Officer and (b) the Royal National Institute for the Deaf on the medical evidence in relation to hearing loss of war pensioners; and if he will make a statement. [8720]

Mr. Heald

A copy of the texts of the medical advisor's address to the Central Advisory Committee on War Pensions which describes the consultation that has been held on this issue and gives the medical references on which the change in medical opinion has been based have been placed in the Library.