§ 8. Mr. GILBERTasked the Minister of Pensions whether he can state approximately the number of blind pensioners for which his Department is liable; whether any arrangements are made with St. Dunstans or other similar institutes to deal with these most unfortunate cases; whether his Department makes annual grants to such institutes; and can he make any general statement as to how this class of pensioner is dealt with and helped by his Department?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere are approximately 1,550 blinded officers and men receiving pension from my Department, all of whom have been to "St. Dunstans" (or in Scotland to Newington House, Edinburgh), where they are trained in new occupations suitable to their condition before returning to their homes. After their return the institutions mentioned continue to keep in touch with them by means of local representatives. These institutions are maintained out of private funds, and consequently the men have the advantage of receiving allowances at the maximum rate of pension instead of the smaller allowances which would otherwise be payable.