§ 3. Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Pensions whether he can inform the House as to the percentage of applicants successful in gaining their cases put forward before the Ministry of Pensions Appeal Tribunal?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am obtaining information regarding this matter, and I hope to be in a position to answer my hon. Friend's question next week.
§ 4. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that discharged soldiers in many cases have to apply for parish relief while awaiting the decision of the pension appeal tribunal as to whether their disability is due to or aggravated by military service; and whether it is possible to make some arrangement whereby the local War Pensions Committee would be empowered with a discretionary prerogative to administer grants to disabled discharged soldiers under such conditions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI must refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Pontypridd on the 29th July, 1920, of which I am sending him a copy.
§ Mr. SPENCERMay I ask what relief there is in a case in which a man was 1045 passed Al when he enlisted, but, when he comes to apply for a pension, the doctor who examines him—and the Board uphold the decision—states that he is suffering from some ailment that was contracted before he entered the Service? How is a man to get over that?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere is a Medical Member who sits with the Tribunal, which is under the jurisdiction of the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. RAFFANIf we desire to put a question with reference to the action of the Appeal Board, and if the right hon. Gentleman cannot reply, may I ask who can?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid I cannot, because, as I have said, this Appeal Board or Tribunal was created by the House of Commons to review decisions which I have given as Minister of Pensions.
§ Mr. RAFFANMay I ask whether any question can be addressed to any Minister in this House with regard to it, or is the House of Commons now entirely precluded from any supervision whatever?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf my hon. Friend will put down a question I will see that it is answered.
§ Mr. NEWBOULDIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that in cases where there is a doubt the Appeal Board appointed by the Lord Chancellor invariably gives it against the applicant and not for him?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI wish my hon. Friend would put down a question, because I would like to give the facts. I am told that in 70 per cent. of the cases appeals are granted in their favour by the Lord Chancellor's tribunal.
Sir HENRY COWANMay I ask whether there is any process whatever by which a man who has been passed by the medical examination for the Army or the Navy as absolutely fit, and who has been discharged in. consequence of the hardships he has suffered during the War, and has had his case turned down by the Appeal Tribunal, can get redress from the Ministry of Pensions?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIf a man is discharged by reason of an ailment result- 1046 ing from his service, that clearly would be a case within the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Pensions.
Sir H. COWANMay I ask what machinery there is by which such a man can make an appeal to the Ministry of Pensions? I have appealed in regard to a very strong case, and it has been turned down each time, and I want to know whether there is any possibility of doing anything for these men, who undoubtedly have suffered in the service of the nation.
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI remember the case to which my hon. Friend refers. In that case there was an appeal first of all to a medical board, who turned it down, and then there was an appeal to the Appeal Tribunal, which was also turned down. If an appeal is turned down on every occasion by these Boards, what can the Minister of Pensions do? There must be some limit, and he must be guided by his technical advisers.