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SECTION IV—WAR PENSIONS Report of the Secretary for War Pensions which has been submitted to the Minister of Defence NEW LEGISLATION WAR PENSIONS AMENDMENT ACT, 1949, AND WAR PENSIONS AND ALLOWANCES (MERCANTILE MARINE) AMENDMENT ACT, 1949 These amendments, effective from the Ist June, 1949, increased the maximum basic rate of war-disablement pensions from £3 to £3 10s. a week. The weekly rate of pension for a wife without dependent children was increased from £1 to £1 ss. and for a wife with dependent children from £1 10s. to £1 15s. The maximum attendant's allowance was increased from £5 10s. to £5 15s. Pensions to widows of deceased members of the Forces or Mercantile Marine were increased from £2 ss. to £2 10s. a week, and the additional mother's allowance paid where there are dependent children was increased from £1 10s. to £1 15s. a week. Pensions for children remained at 10s. a week, but pensions payable in respect of orphans whose fathers' deaths were due to war service were increased from £1 to £1 ss. a week. The War Pensions Board was given authority to grant a war pension in respect of any child adopted by a member. Previously pensions in respect of the death or disablement of a member could be granted only to children adopted before the 31st May, 1940, or the date of disablement or other event to which death was attributable. War pensions in respect of children were brought into line with the family benefit provisions of the Social Security Act by authorizing payment from a date not earlier than the Ist day of the month of birth, and to the end of the month in which the child attains the age of sixteen years or dies. Pensions for certain girls were made payable to the end of the month in which they attained the age of seventeen years instead of ceasing from the seventeenth birthday as formerly. The basic rate of war veteran's allowance was increased from £ll7 plus £ll7 for a. wife, to £l3O plus £l3O for a wife. FINANCE ACT (No. 2), 1949 This Act, also effective from the Ist June, 1949, increased the limit of income,, including pension, for widowed mothers receiving economic pensions concurrently with dependants' pensions from £3 10s. to £3 15s. for widowed mothers who were wholly dependent on the deceased member, and from £2 ss. to £2 10s. for widowed mothers who were not wholly dependent on the deceased member. WAR PENSIONS REGULATIONS 1945, AMENDMENT No. 2 (1949/181) The availability of instalments of war pension was extended to the end of the month following the month in which the instalment became payable. The maximum amount, payable to Service patients in hospital was increased from 15s. to £1 a week. The allowance payable to pensioners required to travel for medical examination or treatment was increased from 17s. 6d. to £1 ss. a day for board and lodging and from £1 a day to 13s. 9d. a half-day for compensation for loss of wages.

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