§ 77. Sir J. BUTCHERasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to a recent resolution of the York Board of Guardians which was adopted at the Central Conference of the Poor Law Guardians of England and Wales on 14th February, in which they referred to the large proportion of disabled ex-service men among the applicants for Poor Law relief, and urged the desirability of granting full disability pensions to all disabled ex-service men while unemployed, in view 233 of the fact that they are doubly handicapped in an overcrowded labour market by reason of the disability arising from war service; and whether he will take steps to give effect to this resolution?
§ The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Abertillery (Mr. G. Barker) on the 9th February, of which I am sending him a copy, and to which I have nothing to add.
§ Sir J. BUTCHERIf the hon. and gallant Gentleman cannot concede the whole of this demand, will he consider the desirability of conceding, at any rate, part of it?
§ Major TRYONIf my hon. and learned Friend will refer to the answer given by the Minister of Pensions, he will see that he is not prepared to accede to this demand. He will also see from the supplementary answer why, in his opinion, it is not in the interests of the ex-service men themselves.