asked the Minister for Defence if he is in a position to state (a) the total number of applications received for certificates of military service by the Board of Assessors in accordance with the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, (b) the number granted, (c) the number rejected, and (d) the number pending consideration by the Board; further, if he will state (e) the number of appeals received by him to have findings of the Board reopened on additional evidence, and (f) the number of such cases which he has referred to the Board for reconsideration, and if he will say when the additional evidence of such appeals will be considered by the Board.

The numbers were as follows on the 19th inst.:—(a) Total number of applications for certificates of military service received under the Military Service Pensions Act, 1924, 21,963. (b) Number of applications on which the Board of Assessors have made reports qualifying applicants to pensions, 3,191. (c) Number rejected, 17,671. (d) Number pending consideration by the Board, 1,101. (e) Number of appeals received by me in which additional evidence has been furnished, 460. (f) All of these appeals were referred to the Board, who have decided 231 of them. I am not in a position to say when the remaining cases will be considered. That is a matter for the Board. I should add that a very large number of appeals have been received in which additional evidence has not been furnished.

Arising out of the Minister's reply, can he say by whom are the appeals considered?

The Pension Boards.

The Pension Board that has considered the original application and turned it down?

It will only consider appeals on additional evidence, not on original evidence.

Can the Minister give any idea as to when it is intended to wind up these Boards?

Whenever the work is finished.