42. Mr. KENNEDY JONESasked the Pensions Minister whether an officer under Article 6, Clause (b), of the Royal Warrant is entitled to actual necessary medical and other expenses incidental to treatment in respect of the disability for which he was retired; whether such other expenses include maintenance expenses during the period of treatment; and, if not, whether he will take steps to include such expenses?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENAn officer under Article 6, Clause (b) of the Royal Warrant of 1st August, 1917, receives on application such reimbursement or payment as my medical advisers consider reasonable and justified in respect of actual necessary medical and other expenses incidental to treatment. When it is considered that the normal cost of maintenance is increased through causes arising out of the treatment (e.g., necessity for special diet, or residence in special climates, or at a spa), a grant is made towards the maintenance expenses in addition to the award of retired pay.
Mr. JONESWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman please tell me why this Department has refused to bear any of the cost of maintenance expenses in severe shell shock cases where a period of prolonged rest and feeding is, as a matter of fact, treatment necessitated by the disability from which the man is suffering?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENIt depends upon what the extra cost is due to; but if my hon. Friend will bring the case under my notice I will have the matter investigated.
Mr. JONESI have brought the case under the notice of the Department of the hon and gallant Gentleman. Is he aware that the Pensions Minister wrote a letter the other day in which he said, "This man appears to expect the Ministry of Pensions to pay for, or contribute to, the expenses of his maintenance during illness; that we cannot do"?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENYes; but, as I have already explained, we do not pay ordinary maintenance charges; what 590 we do is to pay for treatment and any extra cost of maintenance due to treatment. Whilst an officer or man is undergoing treatment his retired pay or pension is put up to the highest rate—that is to say, the rate of total disability. Out of that he is expected to pay ordinary maintenance charges.
§ Mr. HOGGECan my hon. and gallant Friend say how the Pensions Ministry can consider the treatment not to include the ordinary maintenance of the men in getting well? Can the Parliamentary Secretary say how an officer is to get well on the treatment expenses if the Pensions Ministry do not maintain him, bearing in mind the fact that he is unable to earn anything during that period?
§ Sir A. GRIFFITH-BOSCAWENI have already explained to my hon. Friend that the retired pay is put up to the total disability rate.