§ 1. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether Private Charles Stoddart, No. 16,157, 1st Battalion Cameron Highlanders, who enlisted in December, 1914, and was discharged 14th December, 1918, has been refused a pension on the ground that his illness was not caused by his service; whether he is aware that he made complaints to the regimental doctor in France in December, 1915, and January, 1916; that his record as a workman from his employers and his trade union show he was an excellent timekeeper and worker before he enlisted; whether he is aware that his doctor certifies him as suffering from illness contracted in the service; and whether he will consider if this case is deserving a pension?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Macpherson)Private Stoddart was 1418 transferred to munition work on 10th August, 1916, and was discharged as surplus to military requirements (not having suffered impairment during service) on 14th December, 1918. At his medical examination in the following January he complained of slight rheumatic pains, but the medical officer was not of opinion that this slight disability was due to or aggravated by military service. Stoddart appealed in 1919 to the Pension Appeal Tribunal, who, however, confirmed the decision as to non-attributability on 6th ultimo, and as the decision of the Appeal Tribunal is by statute final, no award of pension or allowance can be made. There is no record in Private Stoddart's military papers that he made complaint as to his health to the regimental doctor, nor is there any record of his having received medical treatment.