§ 52. Lord C. BERESFORDasked the Prime Minister whether the Government will take into consideration the cases of men who have been rendered blind through being wounded in the War; and whether, having regard to the fact that the calamity of blindness is more terrible than most of the other wounds by which men are incapacitated, he will see that they receive some extra pension?
§ Mr. TENNANTA soldier rendered blind by wounds in war would be eligible for the highest rate of disability pension. This is the existing rule, and I do not find that a departure from this is contemplated by the recent Select Committee on Allowances and Pensions. I may mention here 236 that, by the reports of voluntary workers among the blind, steps are being taken to give individual encouragement and assistance to each blinded soldier to acquire some industrial aptitude which would prevent him from settling into a life of complete dependence on others.
§ Lord C. BERESFORDAm I to understand that the blind really will get a little bit more than the others?
§ Mr. TENNANTThey will be on the highest scale.