§ 6. Mr. R. MORRISONasked the Minister of Pensions whether a man who has lost both legs below the knees as a result of war service, and who, through crawling, has now contracted fluid in both knees and, as a consequence is rendered as helpless as a man with both legs off above the knees, is thereby entitled to be granted the maximum constant attendance of £1 per week?
Mr. ROBERTSThe amount of constant attendance allowance in a case of this nature would depend on medical advice. If, after examination, one of my medical officers reported that the man required an attendant to be constantly at hand throughout the day the maximum allowance of 20s. a week would be granted. If a man's condition were found to be as stated in the question, I have no doubt that the examining medical officer would recommend an allowance at the maximum rate.
§ Mr. MORRISONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that his predecessor laid it down in this House that a man who had lost both legs by War service was entitled to the maximum attendance allowance for total incapacity?
Mr. ROBERTSI have not looked at the answer of my predecessor, but I can assure my hon. Friend that the statement made in my answer to the latter part of his question shall be carried into effect.
§ Mr. MORRISONIf I send my right. hon. Friend the particulars, will he consider them sympathetically?
§ 8. Sir ROBERT HAMILTONasked the Minister of Pensions whether an ex-soldier attending at a limb-fitting centre is entitled to his expenses if so attending; and whether, when such attendance entails an absence of several days, the allowance in respect of loss of remunerative time can be assessed at a more equitable rate than that of treatment allowance only, which may fall far short of the actual loss to the patient?
Mr. ROBERTSMen attending a limb-fitting centre are entitled to repayment of their travelling expenses, and, in addition, either to treatment allowances or to compensation for loss of remunerative time on the usual scales. Normally, attendance is not required for more than one day in a week, and in such cases the pensioner receives his pension, together with a payment in respect of remunerative time lost.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that it takes several days for a man to attend a centre, that he has to be away two or three nights, and then has to get back again, that in 1950 winter travelling is very difficult, and that it seems hard that a man should lose the amount of money paid to any one who works for him while he is away?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONWill the right hon. Gentleman consider such cases, as the circumstances are different from those of ordinary cases?
Mr. ROBERTSI will certainly consider the point raised by the hon. Member. The answer I have given is based on the information I have in the Department.
§ Sir R. HAMILTONMay I send particulars of the case to the right hon. Gentleman?