5. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Pensions Minister if, in the Middlesbrough district, the doctors are refusing to issue the two medical reports prescribed by Circular 143 in connection with claims for pensions under Article 9 of the Royal Warrant unless they receive from the discharged soldier a fee of 5s. for each of the two certificates required by every applicant; and, as in many cases discharged soldiers are not able to pay the 10s. demanded, can he authorise the local pensions committee to pay these medical fees, if necessary?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON - EVANSUnder Article 9 of the Royal Warrant, a demobilised or discharged soldier is entitled to claim a pension at any time after leaving the Service if he can show that he is suffering from a. disability due to or aggravated by service, notwithstanding that he made no claim on demobilisation or discharge and appeared then to be in perfect health. In such circumstances, it must clearly rest upon the man to substantiate his claim, and the Ministry cannot reasonably be asked to defray the expense of obtaining the necessary evidence. I am, however, revising the procedure for claims under Article 9, and I hope to reduce the amount of primary evidence required.