§ 97. Colonel Sir J. REMNANTasked the Home Secretary whether he is aware that Police Constable Robert Lowes joined the Army with the consent of the Commissioner in 1915; that the constable, following the battle of Loos, in which he took part, was transferred to the military police for Home service; that he was refused reinstatement in the Metropolitan Police on demobilisation in 1919 on medical grounds; and whether, in view of the fact that police authorities have been asked to reinstate, wherever possible, constables who have been discharged from the Army, he will order ex-Police Constable Lowes to be reexamined, in view of the fact that he has three doctors' certificates declaring him quite capable of finishing his time in the police force, so that he may be able to serve the 3½ years necessary to qualify for a full pension?
§ Mr. SHORTTThe ex-Police Constable was discharged from the Army in January, 1919, with a pension, and on his 1716 examination by the Chief Surgeon was found to be unfit for police duty owing to his suffering from epilepsy. I am most anxious that all police constables, who have served in the Army, should be reinstated in the police, but I think the hon. and gallant Member will see that it is impossible to regard a man who has suffered from epilepsy as a fit person to employ on police duty.
§ Sir J. REMNANTIs it not a fact that the three subsequent re-examinations of this man by doctors brought out the fact that he had not had epilepsy, and was quite competent to carry out his duties as a police constable?
§ Mr. SHORTTNo, my information is exactly the contrary.
§ Sir J. REMNANTWill the right hon. Gentleman have the case further looked into, and if he finds there is ground for my statement, will he have the case reexamined?