HC Deb 05 November 1906 vol 164 cc108-10
LORD R. CECIL (Marylebone, E.)

I beg to ask the Secretary of State for War whether several patients have recently been discharged from Netley who have been there in some cases for many years; whether, seeing that the only legal refuge for patients so discharged is the workhouse of the place where he was born, he will say what was the final notice given to the patients of their impending discharge; and what steps, if any, the Government intend to take to alleviate the hardships of these men?

MR. HALDANE

It was brought to the notice of the War Office last year that there were several cases of men being retained in military hospitals after their discharge from the Army. Such retention not only caused a charge on Army Votes (of about £3,000 a year) in respect of men no longer in the Army, but also absorbed hospital accommodation required for other soldiers. After full consideration of the matter it was decided that such cases could not be retained indefinitely or from any charitable reason, but that they should be discharged from hospital as soon as they were fit to travel. These men, if they have no homes to go to, are sent to the guardians of their place of settlement. As regards notice to the patients, discretion as to length of notice is left to the principal medical officer of the hospital in question. How long was the notice which he gave in recent cases I cannot tell, but if the noble Lord desires it I will inquire. I am doing all in my power to find homes for these men.

LORD E. CECIL

Are the soldiers described as pensioners not, in fact, suffering from disease? May I further ask is it not a part of the terms under which recruits are engaged that free medical treatment shall be given?

MR. HALDANE

Free medical treatment was given. One man has been ten years an invalid. He has received medical treatment, and he would not have been kept in ordinary civil employment under these conditions.

MR. CROOKS (Woolwich)

As the right hon. Gentleman expects to save £3,000 a year on this arrangement, will he consider the advisability of sharing the money for the benefit of these men until they can find a permanent home?

MR. HALDANE

If Parliament will give me authority in the matter I will see what can be done. It is going beyond the power of the medical organisation to keep the sick until they find a home. I will consider the question for putting money on the Estimates, but I cannot give any assurance.

MR. CROOKS

Then these men will be branded as paupers?

MR. ASHLEY (Lancashire, Blackpool)

Will the right hon. Gentleman put down an extra sum in the Estimates to provide for these men?

MR. HALDANE

I will consider that question, but can give no assurance at present.

LORD R. CECIL

Does the right hon. Gentleman say that these soldiers are still in a condition of grave sickness, and are they being sent out of the hospital to enter the workhouse?

MR. HALDANE

They are not in a condition of grave sickness; they are only bed-ridden.

MR. CLAUDE HAY (Shoreditch, Hoxton)

Have they not gone into the workhouse?

MR. DELANY (Queen's County, Ossory)

Are not the Irish workhouses full of soldiers chargeable on the rates?

MR. HALDANE

That may be; I cannot say.

MR. T. L. CORBETT (Down, N.)

Are they not suffering from very grave sickness when they are unable to work?

MR. HALDANE

They are not able to work, and if Parliament chooses to say that the Army medical organisation is to insist upon providing medical treatment, then we will do what Parliament desires of us. But I may point out that some of these men have been ten years under hospital treatment.

MR. MYER (Lambeth, N.)

rose to put a further Question.

*MR. SPEAKER

Order, order! This is becoming a debate.