HC Deb 07 December 1922 vol 159 cc1959-60
10. Mr. LANSBURY

asked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of George Henry Sprunt, of the Somerset Light Infantry, who was called up on 18th October, 1917, sent to France, where he served until March, 1918, after which he was sent to Egypt, demobilised 20th April, 1920, and at the end of which year he was treated by a local doctor for neurasthenia; whether he is aware that this man is now in Brentwood Asylum without a pension, is classified as a pauper on the West Ham rates, and his father called upon to pay 5s. per week towards his maintenance, the pensions appeal tribunal having disallowed his claim; whether he is aware that from 1915 to 1917 this man was in regular employment and in excellent health, and was passed into the Army as Al and served as such; and, in these circumstances, will the Ministry immediately remove the man from the pauper list and treat him as one of the men for whose sufferings the nation is responsible?

Major TRYON

The decision of the Ministry that this man's disability is neither due to, nor worsened by, service has been confirmed on appeal by the independent pensions appeal tribunal, whose decision is final.

Mr. LANSBURY

Does the right hon. Gentleman still stick to his statement that no man who has served overseas is treated in this way—as a pauper lunatic?

Major TRYON

I do not know to what my hon. Friend is referring to in this particular case.

Mr. LANSBURY

The other night the hon. and gallant Gentleman said something to the effect I have stated?

Major TRYON

In the discussion in the House on ex-service men in asylums I held in my hand six or seven cases, and said that none of these cases had served overseas.

Mr. LANSBURY

I will send the right hon. Gentleman the statement to which I refer. Do I understand this man in my question was not enlisted as A1; if he was so enlisted, is he not entitled to a pension, and will the right hon. Gentleman give his attention to that point?

Major TRYON

I will send the hon. Gentleman the information for which he asks. I think I ought to say that I have already been asked to go into about 200 individual cases to-day, and therefore I am not immediately in possession of all the details of each case. If the hon. Gentleman will write to me I shall be very happy to give him the information for which he asks.