Mr. G. GRIFFFITHS:

asked the Minister of Health how many persons have lost their pension rights on account of unemployment since the passage of the 1932 Act?

The information asked for is not available, but the number of persons who have lost their pension rights

countries with which we have trade agreements for each of the last four years and the first six months of 1935?

Captain CROOKSHANK:

As the reply involves a number of figures, I will, with the hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The information is as follows:

on account of unemployment since the passage of the Act of 1932 must be inconsiderable, for that Act preserved until the end of this year the pension rights of all unemployed persons who had been continuously insured for at least 208 weeks and had paid 160 contributions. The hon. Member will be aware that the position after the end of this year is provided for by the National Health Insurance and Contributory Pensions Bill which has now reached its final stage.

Do I understand from the answer that no persons Rill lose their pension rights because of the suspension of what was called the prolongation caused by the Government when they suspended the Act? Does it mean that all will now be continued because of the introduction of the second Part?

Yes, as regards the future they are subject to the terms of the Bill. Provided that they can show 10 years' insurance, as the great bulk of them can, they are kept in pension rights until 65.

Mr. GRIFFITHS:

Is it not a fact that a certain number have lost their pensions entirely?

There are a number of young men who do not qualify, and who may, in fact, have left the field of insurance voluntarily.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is now in a position to give a decision in the case of Mrs. A. E. Wickens, of 161, Charlemont Road, East Ham, which was adjourned at the Stratford court for a decision to be made as to her late husband's position under the National Health and Widows', Orphans', and Old Age Contributory Pensions Acts?

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to give a decision in this case. As explained in reply to the hon. Member's previous question on 11th July, the circumstances of the case make it quite unavoidable that some time must elapse before the legal process of a formal determination under Section 89 of the Insurance Act can be completed.

Can the hon. Gentleman state how long he thinks it will be before he will be able to give a decision? This question has been under consideration for more than two months. What is the difficulty in the way?

There is no difficulty, but certain procedure has to be followed. We have received the evidence from the solicitors, and, according to the machinery, we must now consult the employers, and 14 days are allowed for that purpose.