§ 12. Mr. JOHN GUESTasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the failure of many appellants to the final appeals court to understand the medical precis supplied them by the Ministry in preparation for such appeal, and also their inability, owing to illness or the effect of wounds, to adequately present their case, he can now say that the pension authorities will make some suitable provision by which the appellant in presenting his claim may have the assistance of his local doctor, who is in most instances familiar with the case?
Mr. ROBERTSUnder the rules made by the Lord Chancellor, the tribunal is required to assist any appellant who, through ignorance or otherwise, is unable to make the best of his case. Moreover, the tribunal is empowered at its discretion to summon before it expert or other witnesses to give oral evidence. Any question as to an extension of this provision would be a matter for the consideration of the Lord Chancellor.
§ Mr. GUESTIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these privileges of which he has spoken as having been granted to these men are of very little avail, and that, despite them, there is a real demand, particularly in the case of the ex-service men themselves, in favour of having an independent representative apart from the tribunal itself?