HC Deb 13 May 1924 vol 173 cc1131-3
27. Sir WILLIAM DAVISON

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that officers on the active list who have lost a limb in the Great War have personally to bear the cost of repairs to and replacements of their artificial limbs, while officers not on the active list have necessary repairs and replacements paid for out of public funds; and whether he will take steps to remedy this injustice to serving officers, who are penalised for gallantly continuing to serve their country notwithstanding the disability from which they suffer owing to their War service?

Mr. WALSH

The question of allowing repairs and replacements of artificial limbs at the public expense for serving officers who lost a limb during the Great War has been fully considered, but it has been decided that, as such officers are in receipt of a wound pension in addition to the full pay of their rank, they have not an equal claim with retired and half-pay officers to repairs and replacements at the public expense. They are no less favourably treated than serving officers who lose a limb on or after 1st. October, 1921, as the latter, though eligible for repairs and replacements of their artificial limbs at the public expense, receive no pension on account of their wounds while on the active list. I regret that I cannot see my way to alter the decision.

Sir W. DAVISON

Does not the right hon. Gentleman see how very hard it is that a man who continues patriotically to serve his country should be placed in a worse position than a man who ceases to serve his country, goes into civilian life, and probably gets high pay?

Mr. WALSH

I can only say that, while an officer is receiving full pay, he does also, in addition to that full pay, receive the initial cost of the artificial limb. He receives full pay at the same time, so that he is really in no worse position than any of the other officers. The wound pension, as a pension, ceased to exist on and after 1st October, 1921. The matter has been under a good deal of consideration during the last two or three yearn, and I can see no grounds for altering the decision arrived at.

Major COHEN

Does not the right hon. Gentleman consider that, if these particular officers lost limbs in the service of the country, and if the State considers it wise to give them artificial limbs free of charge, it surely must follow that those limbs ought to be kept in repair?

Mr. WALSH

In the case of every officer who is not receiving full pay, he not only gets the initial cost of the limb, but he gets the repairs also. It is only in those cases where they are receiving full pay. [HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"]

Sir W. DAVISON

Surely, this is no question of pay at all, but a question of damage suffered by a man in the service of his country?