I move:—
That a sum not exceeding £1,086,910 be granted to complete the sum necessary to defray the Charge which will come in course of payment during the year ending on the 31st day of March, 1957, for Wound and Disability Pensions, Further Pensions, and Married Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 26 of 1923, No. 12 of 1927, No. 24 of 1932, No. 15 of 1937, No. 2 of 1941, No. 14 of 1943, No. 3 of 1946, Nos. 19 and 28 of 1949 and No. 23 of 1953); Military Service Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 48 of 1924, No. 26 of 1932, No. 43 of 1934, No. 33 of 1938, No. 5 of 1944, Nos. 11 and 34 of 1945, Nos. 7 and 29 of 1949 and No. 5 of 1953); Pensions, Allowances and Gratuities (No. 37 of 1936, No. 9 of 1948, No. 30 of 1950, No. 27 of 1952 and No. 4 of 1953); Payments in respect of Compensation for Members of the Local Defence Force (No. 19 of 1946 and No. 15 of 1949); and for sundry Contributions and Expenses in respect thereof, etc.
As in previous years, the principal provisions of this Estimate are for pensions under the Military Service Pensions Acts, wound and disability pensions, special allowances, dependents' allowances and gratuities under the Army Pensions Acts, and service pensions and gratuities under the Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes in respect of service in the Permanent Defence Force.
The total sum required for 1956-57 is £1,630,360 which is a net increase of £20,781 over the Estimate for 1955-56. The main increases are in sub-heads J and O. The increase of £35,500 in sub-head J—Defence Forces (Pensions) Schemes—is to provide for increased rates of retired pay, pensions and gratuities as authorised by the Defence Forces (Pensions) Scheme, 1956, and for additional cases which will come on pay during the year. We must expect that, for the next few years at any rate, increasing provision must be made for pensioners of this class on account of the greater number of officers and men reaching retiring age.
The increase of £17,000 in sub-head O is to provide for additional cases which will qualify for special allowances under the Army Pensions Acts during the year. The number at present in receipt of these allowances is 4,900 and here again we must expect the number to go on increasing for some considerable time to come. The work of the Military Service Registration Board, which has been mainly concerned with the certification of pre-Truce service in cases of dependents' claims under Part II of the Army Pensions Act, 1953, has been virtually completed. The board will, however, remain in being to deal with any odd cases which may crop up during the year. The members of the board, as at present constituted, are remunerated from other Votes so that no financial provision is necessary for the board in this Estimate.
I hope that the brief outline which I have given will assist Deputies in their examination of the Estimate. If any further explanations are required I shall, of course, be glad to give them. The applications and appeals still awaiting decisions under the Military Service Pensions Acts are being disposed of as quickly as possible and the present indications are that this work will be completed within the next 12 to 18 months. Meanwhile, I am engaged in the review of the whole position about military service pensions, medals and special allowances.