HC Deb 19 March 1918 vol 104 cc788-91
13. Major DAVIES

asked the Undersecretary of State for War whether he is aware that the Postmaster-General is compelling discharged soldiers in his employment to refund small sums said to have been paid as Army gratuities on discharge; whether this is done under War Office instructions; and whether, having regard to the terms under which these men enlisted, he will explain the reasons for such deductions?

Mr. MACPHERSON

I am making inquiry, and will communicate with the hon. and gallant Member later.

Major DAVIES

Is my hon. Friend aware of the answer which the Postmaster-General gave yesterday?

27. The HON. MEMBER

asked the Pensions Minister what steps he intends to take for the provision of medical aid for the widows and children of soldiers; and whether he is prepared to include the wives and children of soldiers who are now serving in the Army under the contemplated scheme?

The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY Of PENSIONS (Colonel Sir Arthur Griffith-Boscawen)

The special arrangements which were at one time contemplated for providing medical aid to the widows and children of soldiers out of their pensions are, as I recently informed the House, not being adopted at the present time. As the hon. and gallant Member is aware, widows and wives of soldiers are entitled to medical attendance and treatment if they are employed contributors under the National Health Insurance Acts, and where such or similar entitlement does not exist, and there is pecuniary need, a recently extended Regulation of the Special Grants Committee allows substantial grants, extending over a considerable period in cases of serious illness of the wives, children, and dependants of serving soldiers, and the widows and orphans of soldiers deceased.

29. Sir H. HARRIS

asked the Pensions Minister whether the Local Government Board has issued to councils of areas for which local war pensions committees have been established a circular letter stating that the estimates of the administrative expenses of local war pensions committees for the financial year beginning 1st April, 1918, are to be submitted to the Board for approval not later than 18th May, 1918; whether the circular letter in question states that there is no legal authority for the payment of administrative expenditure in excess of an approved estimate; and what steps are to be taken by local war pensions committees to obtain funds to meet their administrative expenses between 1st April, 1918, and the date upon which the estimates for the financial year 1918–19 are approved by the Local Government Board?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

The facts are as stated in my hon. Friend's question. I understand that the period between the 1st April and the date of the approval of the estimates is covered by funds already in the hands of the local committees or by advances obtained from the local authorities concerned. I share the opinion, which my hon. Friend suggests, that the present position of dual control over local committee expenditure is unsatisfactory, and I hope to introduce legislation which will place the financial position of local committees on a more satisfactory footing.

30. Mr. SNOWDEN

asked the Pensions Minister if Private Rose, M/2, No. 020,997. late of the Army Service Corps, was discharged from the Army on the 15th September, 1916, on account of nerve shock; that this man was granted a conditional pension of 17s. 6d. a week for the first six months, after which it was reduced to 5s. 3d. a week conditionally; that on account of the inadequacy of this pension Ross was obliged to return to his former occupation as a motor driver, and that in consequence of his nervous condition an accident occurred on the 24th August, 1917, for which he was held responsible, and was sentenced to 60 days' imprisonment; whether at the trial strong medical evidence was brought forward to prove that Ross suffered from neurasthenia and lapses of memory; whether his pension of 5s. 3d. a week has been stopped from the date of his arrest, namely, the 25th August, 1917; and what further action it is proposed to take m the matter?

Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWEN

Private George Ross was invalided on the 27th September, 1916, on account of mental instability which, in the opinion of the Invaliding Medical Board was not due to military service, but was aggravated thereby, and he was awarded a pension of 17s. a week, which, after his examination by a board of doctors, was reduced after six months to 5s. 3d. a week. In accordance with the usual practice, Ross's pension is forfeited for a period equivalent to the term during which he was maintained in prison at the public expense. Since the incident referred to by the hon. Member the man's condition has been found to have materially worsened, and his pension has been increased.