§ 9. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that patients in the military hospital at Bellahouston, Glasgow, are being charged 19s. per week for their maintenance; if he can state by whose instructions this is done; and whether he will consider favourably the payment of their pensions in lull without this deduction?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSThe>hon. Member is misinformed. The Bellahouston Hospital is one of the Pensions Hospitals and patients are not charged 19s. a week or any other sum for their maintenance. On the contrary they receive a treatment allowance of 21s., with additions for rank and further allowances for wife and children.
§ Sir MACLEANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that 19s. is being deducted and this information has been given to me by soldiers who have been in receipt of £2?
Sir L. WORTH INGTON-EVANSThe hon. Member is really not stating the case properly. If the patient was being treated at home it is true that he would be getting the whole allowance of 40s. a week, but when in hospital the allowance is not 40s. but 21s. plus wife and children allowances. It is not fair to call this a hospital stoppage or anything equivalent to it.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf it is not a stoppage for that purpose, would it not be better to have that information conveyed to those in authority?
§ Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANSI am not aware that anybody connected with the Ministry has the slightest doubt about the position.