§ 4. Mr. N. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that James McFarlane, care of Reid, 31, White Street, Govan, Glasgow, had the degree of his disability assessed at 6 to 14 per cent. for more than a year; that he was awarded a final allowance of 7s. 6d. for 70 weeks; that on his appeal McFarlane was awarded a final gratuity of £10, from which was deducted the amount of £6 as payment already made under the previous award, leaving Only a cash balance of £4 to be handed to him; and that great dissatisfaction prevails among pensioners at the decisions of Appeal Boards, and that a general feeling exists that the lower awards are made as a deterrent to others; and whether, in view of this, he will give this case reconsideration?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis man appealed to a Medical Appeal Board against the assessment of his disablement, and, on that Board reporting that a lower assessment was appropriate, the award was correspondingly reduced in accordance with the accepted conditions of the appeal. The award has now been declared to be a final award, and the man has lodged an appeal to the Assessment Appeal Tribunal. As regards the last part of the question, I may inform the hon. Member that the result of all appeals to Medical Appeal Boards during the last six months shows that in over 31 per cent. of the cases the assessment was increased, and in 58 per cent. no change was made.