CONDUCT OF THE CHIEF SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY AND WAR PENSIONS

That this House believes that the decision not to outline the specific changes to war pensions at the time of the Budget is an insult to Parliament and to the freedoms which war veterans secured for this nation; and believes that if the Chief Secretary to the Treasury was responsible for covering up the full extent of the cuts he should resign; notes with grave concern that the proposed package of cuts in war pensions will stop 10,000 people a year whose hearing has deteriorated following military service receiving a higher disability pension and to stop the issue of reminders to people to return their claim or seek an increase in entitlement; and believes that such a package is clearly not a measure merely to 'simplify policy and procedures' as claimed in a Budget press release, but instead a cynical attempt to cut social security expenditure at the expense of war veterans and widows who have made immense sacrifices for this nation.