Explanatory note

The Personal Injuries (Civilians) Scheme 1983 (“the principal Scheme”) makes provision for the payment of pensions and allowances to or in respect of civilians who were killed or injured during the 1939-45 World War. This scheme amends the principal Scheme in the manner described below.

This scheme increases the rates of allowances, pension and awards payable and the amounts of income to be disregarded for the purposes of certain parts of the principal Scheme by inserting new Schedules 3 and 4 to the principal Scheme.

This scheme deletes paragraphs 3 and 4 of Article 18 (Unemployability allowance), so that Article 18 no longer prevents a person in receipt of retirement pension (other than a retirement pension which consists of certain additions) from being eligible for unemployability allowance.

This scheme further amends the principal Scheme by substituting a revised Article 64 (Maintenance in a hospital or an institution) and by deleting schedule 7. The revised Article 64 only requires deductions to be made from constant attendance allowance and severe disablement occupational allowance whilst a person to whom those allowances are paid is in hospital or an institution.

It also inserts new Articles 69A (Suspension – failure to comply with request or pensioner not at last known address) and 69B (Cancellation – failure to comply with request). These Articles give the Secretary of State power to suspend, and later cancel, a pension, gratuity or supplement where a person, having been required to provide information, or to attend for a medical examination, fails to do so after being given reasonable notice. Consequential amendments are made to Schedule 5 (Commencing dates of awards) in order to provide for payment of an award to be backdated on the Secretary of State deciding to recommence a suspended or cancelled award.

A regulatory impact assessment has not been produced for this instrument as it has no significant impact on the costs of business, charities or voluntary bodies.