§ 9 Mr. GRUNDYasked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether, taking into consideration the increased cost of living, ho is prepared to revise the allowances payable to disabled men receiving or willing to receive concurrent treatment and training, especially as these men have to reside away from home, and bring these allowances up to such a standard as will ensure the proper upkeep of the men's homes;
(2) whether he is aware that there are cases of disabled men having been granted concurrent treatment and training who have had to discontinue the same owing to the fact that the allowances payable are insufficient to meet the liabilities incurred in an ordinary household;
(3) whether he is aware that there are disabled men who are unable, owing to their disabilities, to follow their pre-War occupations and who would willingly accept concurrent treatment and training if the allowances payable were sufficient: and whether better results of such training would not occur if the allowances paid to the men were based at a standard that would enable the men to devote their minds to such training?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe Government have recently considered proposals for an addition to pensions and allowances and have decided that no increase can be sanctioned at present. I have no information that would support the suggestion that disabled men are either unwilling to undertake, or are failing to complete courses of concurrent treatment and training on the ground that the allowances granted are inadequate.
§ Mr. GRUNDYIf I provided the right hon. Gentleman with such cases will he give sympathetic consideration to them?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMost certainly, Sir.
§ Mr. PENNEFATHERIs it not extremely important to give every encouragement to disabled men to undergo concurrent treatment and training?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is no part of the functions of the Ministry that is so useful as this, and in answer to the hon. Gentleman opposite (Mr. Grundy), I may inform the House that many hundreds of men are awaiting the advantages of the treatment.