§ 35. Mr. RENDALLasked the Pensions Minister whether he has now made inquiry into the case of Private L. Hembry, No. 202128, 3/7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment; whether the War Office definitely stated that this man had been classified as fit only for permanent base in November, 1916, but he was in the following year sent in a fighting unit to Italy, where his health and mind completely gave way, and he was finally discharged on 22nd May, 1918; whether he has since been taken to the Gloucester County Asylum and is expected to be permanently insane; if the medical referee, after examination for pension allowance, agreed that his condition resulted from his war service; if an allowance of only 5s. 6d. has been granted, though it has not been paid for three months, because the Ministry will not grant permission to the father to draw it; if the asylum authorities are now pressing this man's father to pay £3 11s., the cost of taking him to the asylum, and 13s. weekly towards the son's maintenance; and what action he proposes to take?
§ Mr. HODGEPrivate Hembry, at the time of his discharge, was not certifiable, and the medical opinion was that his earning capacity was not much impaired. He was consequently awarded a conditional pension of 5s. 6d. a week. Since his discharge he appears to have become worse, and he is now in the Gloucester County Asylum, where he is classed as a "Service patient." So long as he remains there no necessity arises for a re-examination, as the conditional award is in abeyance and he is regarded as totally disabled. I am making inquiries as to the further statements made in the question.