HC Deb 02 August 1916 vol 85 cc296-7
30. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been called to the case of the late Gunner R. T. Perks, No. 19869, 164th Brigade Royal Field Artillery, who enlisted on the 8th May, 1915, and died whilst in training, on the 26th November,, at the military hospital, Salisbury; whether he is aware that his wife and child, residing at 41, Beall Street, Attercliffe, Sheffield, have received no pension or other allowance for over four months and have been informed that no Government pension will be forthcoming; whether the official reason for this is that the late Gunner Perks is stated to have suffered for six years from chronic kidney disease which in the opinion of the doctors was not aggravated by service; whether the existence of this chronic disease was known at the time of his enlistment and, if so, why he was enlisted; upon what ascertained facts the doctors base their conclusion that his disease was not aggravated by the new and hard conditions of Army training; and, in view of the fact that this soldier's widow and child have been left in very poor circumstances and have already had to break up their home, if he will say what action be proposes to take?

Mr. FORSTER

The disease, unfortunately, was not recognised when the late Gunner Perks enlisted, and the medical opinion on which the claim to pension was decided was that there was no evidence by which the disease could be regarded as caused or aggravated by military service. Further inquiries, however, are being made, and I will let the hon. Member know in due course of the result.

31. Mr. ANDERSON

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office whether his attention has been directed to the case of Private Horace Wright, No. 7086, King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, of 27, Coronation Avenue, Dinnington, near Rotheraham; whether he is aware that this soldier took part in the fighting in France and was severely wounded in November, 1914, being buried in a trench for forty minutes owing to the bursting of a shell, thereby sustaining permanent injury to the spine, and being shot through the wrist in addition; whether he is aware that the man was discharged on 18th November, 1915, as no longer fit for war service with a pension of £1 a week, and that, though medically certified to be unfit for work of any sort, his pension on 6th April, 1916, was reduced to 12s. 6d. a week; whether he can say for what reason the pension was reduced; and, since the man has a wife and child and is quite unable to undertake employment, whether steps will be taken to increase the pension to the former amount?

Mr. FORSTER

I am having this case inquired into and will let my hon. Friend know the result.