Oral Answers to Questions — Ministry of Pensions – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 28 Ionawr 1947.
Mr Sidney Shephard
, Newark
12:00,
28 Ionawr 1947
asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that many ex-Service pensioners are being reassessed and, although their disability remains the same, their pensions are either being reduced or cancelled; and what steps he is taking to ensure that these men receive fair treatment.
Mr Wilfred Paling
, Wentworth
Where disablement is liable to fluctuation the rate of pension is necessarily subject to periodic reassessment up or down according to any change in the average degree of disablement found on medical examination. Reassessment is not made without such examination, and no pension is reduced or cancelled where the disablement resulting from war service remains the same. On re-survey medical boards are required to consider equally the question whether there has been worsening due to war service or improvement in the accepted condition.
Mr Sidney Shephard
, Newark
Whilst I am very glad to have that assurance, may I ask how many ex-Service pensioners have been reexamined during the last few months, or any other period, and how many of them have had their pensions increased?
Mr Wilfred Paling
, Wentworth
Obviously I could not state that without notice. If the hon. Member will put down a Question I will do my best to answer it.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.