§ 27. Mr. PENNEFATHERasked the Pensions Minister if any arrangements have yet been made to enable discharged soldiers to enter military hospitals for any purposes; and, if so, will he state to what extent previous restrictions have been cancelled or modified?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir A. Griffith-Boscawen)Arrangements have been made with the War Office to place 300 beds in the military orthopædic hospitals at the disposal of the Ministry for discharged men, and the Army Council have agreed to admit cases of facial and jaw injury to their special hospitals. In addition, instructions have been issued to the commands to make arrangements for the release of over 2,000 beds now reserved by the military authorities in civil hospitals as a first step towards the general release of all accommodation in these hospitals, and I am pressing the War Office to use all expedition possible in the matter.