43. Major DAVIESasked the Pensions Minister whether he has now been able to arrive at an agreement with the Welsh Insurance Commissioners so as to provide that in the future the cost of treatment of discharged and disabled men suffering from tuberculosis will be entirely borne by 1822 the Ministry of Pensions; and whether, as it is presumed that these men did not suffer from this disease when they entered the Army and contracted tuberculosis during their period of military service, he will explain why it is proposed that part of the cost of their treatment should now be borne by the funds provided under the National Insurance Act?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENNo such agreement as that referred to by the hon. and gallant Member has been considered, and I have no power under the terms of the Royal Warrant to pay the expenses of treatment so far as provision is otherwise made for them. Under the National Insurance Acts the provision of treatment for cases of tuberculosis in general falls upon the Insurance Commissioners and insurance committees. I have, however, made arrangements to defray the cost of treatment in certain classes of cases, namely, advanced cases of the disease and early cases sent for prolonged treatment and training to farm colonies; and in addition I have assisted the insurance authorities to provide additional Grants-in-Aid so as to secure preferential treatment generally for discharged men. The hon. and gallant Member's assumption that discharged men suffering from tuberculosis "did not suffer from the disease when they entered the Army and contracted tuberculosis during the period of military service" is incorrect with regard to a substantial proportion of the men.