asked the Minister of Pensions if he will relax the ruling that pensioners must be unable to resume work for at least three months following their discharge from hospital or treatment to qualify for a temporary incapacity allowance; and whether he is prepared substantially to improve the present allowance of 9s. per week for temporary incapacity in cases where the pensioner is not entitled to draw National Health Insurance benefit.

I have these matters under consideration, and I hope shortly to be in a position to make a statement on the subject.