HC Deb 16 March 2001 vol 364 c757W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will assess the desirability and cost of introducing regular four yearly health checks on war veterans with war wounds, for the purpose of ensuring that they receive the correct pension entitlement. [153382]

Mr. Bayley

I have been asked to reply.

The period for which a war disablement pension is awarded represents the length of time over which it is judged that the assessed level of service-related disablement will remain stable. Lengths of awards are based on individual case-specific facts, taking account of the nature and natural history of the disabling condition and any planned treatment.

Regardless of the length of any award, if at any time the war pensioner believes that their pensioned condition has deteriorated, he or she may request a review of the award and the assessed level of their service-related disablement, by the Secretary of State for Social Security.

These provisions are regarded as appropriate to ensure that war pensioners receive War Pensions at rates appropriate to their service-related disablements.