GENERAL SUMMARY. 1. Total number of Beneficiaries.-On the 31st March, 1927, the recipients of pensions or allowances from the Ministry of Pensions numbered about 1,665,000, or one in every 26 of the population. This total was made up, on the one hand, of pensioners to the number of approximately one million, including 25,000 officers, 1,100 nurses, and 489,500 men; 482,000 pensioned widows and parents of officers and men who have died in consequence of war disabilities; and, on the other hand, of members of the families of pensioners, for whom allowances are paid along with the pension to the disabled man or widow, to the number of about 667,000, consisting of 481,000 children and 186,000 wives. The aggregate number of beneficiaries is slowly declining as the result of a variety of natural causes, such as the re-marriage of widows-about 4,000 in the year-children reaching the pensionable age limit of 16-about 68,000 in the year-and deathsabout 23,000 in the year, chiefly among aged dependants. But the fact that the number in receipt of compensation at the close of the year was as high as 1,665,000 shows that the Ministry's task still remains considerable. 2. Staff.-A reduction of 2,228, or about 20 per cent., was effected in the staff of the Ministry during the twelve months. At the end of March it numbered 9,130, being 23,000 less than in 1920, when it reached its highest point. 3. Expenditure.-The expenditure of the Ministry during the year amounted approximately to £63,450,000. The administrative expenses, included in this amount, were about £1,860,000, which is equivalent to 7d. to each £ of benefit expenditure, as compared with 1s. 34d. in the £ in 1920. Both administrative and medical expenditure were lower than in the previous year by more than 20 per cent. There was a decrease also in the cost of pensions and other benefits amounting, however, to about 3 per cent. only. 4. First Awards.-Applications from widows and dependants and also from men claiming to be disabled by war service continued to be received with the result that 5,897 first awards of pension were made, the majority of which were granted to widows and dependants. All the unsuccessful applicants entitled to appeal to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal were personally notified, and those who took advantage of that right were afforded every facility. 5. Medical and Surgical Treatment. While there was a natural decrease in the demand for treatment, it was yet found necessary to provide in as many as 96,700 cases a course of medical or surgical treatment. During the period from the formation of the Ministry in 1917 to the 31st March, 1927, over two million. courses of treatment have been provided. Patients to the number of 26,400 were under treatment at the close of the year. 64074 A 2 6. Artificial Limbs and Appliances.-Artificial limbs, surgical appliances and instruments of all kinds, were supplied or renewed in substantial, though slightly diminished number, throughout the year. The total number of artificial legs supplied by the Ministry now exceeds 109,000, while the number of artificial arms is over 27,000. 7. Hospitals and Clinics.-The decreased demand for treatment brought about a reduction in the hospital accommodation which it was found necessary to retain, but at the end of the year there still remained 19 Ministry hospitals with a bed accommodation of 4,138, 27 other hospitals with a bed accommodation of 2,487 reserved entirely for Ministry patients, and 72 clinics under the direct control of the Ministry. Civil hospitals and clinics continued to be used by the Ministry. 8. Medical Boards.-The number of examinations carried out by Medical Boards during the year was about 90,000, a decrease of 47,000 on the preceding year. 9. War Pensions Committees.-The 166 War Pensions Committees and the large body of voluntary workers in association with them continued to render valuable services both to pensioners and to the Ministry. In order to promote closer cooperation with the Department the Minister instituted during the year the plan of holding at various centres occasional meetings of groups of Chairmen of these Committees at which he or the Parliamentary Secretary presided. The meetings were conducted in a spirit of free and frank discussion of all aspects of pensions work within the purview of the Committees, and have proved of advantage to the administration. 10. Some detailed statistical statistical tables are given in the Appendices. AWARDS OF PENSIONS, &C. 11. New Invalidings and Discharges.-During the year 164 decisions were notified in respect of first claims by officers and men on invaliding or discharge. Of this number 93 cases were granted awards, and 71 were rejected. 12. Article 9 Claims.-The number of claims made after discharge under Article 9 which were decided during the year was 12,371, of which 4,268 were accepted, and 8,103 were ejected. 13. Final Awards.-During the year 33,042 final awards were notified; 6,313 appeals to the Pensions Assessment Appeal Tribunal were lodged, and 5,816 appeals were decided by the Tribunals. 14. Service Allowances.-Under the Service Disability Warrant of 26th August, 1922, service allowances may be awarded in addition to disablement pension to men invalided during the Great War with at least 14 years' service and not less than 10 |