§ 2. Mr. LANSBURYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Members of this House are continually bringing to the notice of his Department cases of disabled ex-service men and dependants of men who lost their lives in the late War whose claims for pensions have been rejected on the ground that the disability or death was not due or attributable to service in the War, and that in all these cases the final appeal tribunal has also decided against the applicants; and whether, in view of the grave suffering inflicted on such persons by the refusal of his Department to reopen such cases owing to the decision of this House that such appeals must be final, he will inform the House what steps he proposes to take to reopen such cases without further legislation, or, alternatively, tell the House when he will introduce such an Amendment of the Royal Warrant as will enable him to give to every disabled, or partially disabled, man, or the dependants of such men, as were passed fit for service, such pensions and allowances as will enable them to maintain themselves without recourse to the Poor Law?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Mr. Frederick Roberts)I am aware that 574 among the cases referred to there are some which on merits call for reconsideration. I am glad to be able to inform my hon. Friend that, by an extention of arrangements initiated by my predecessors, I have now been enabled to secure that all cases in which additional evidence is furnished shall be fully considered and a suitable grant made, with the assistance of the Treasury, if the disability or death is now found, in the light of all the evidence available, to be due to service in the late War. The necessary arrangements are being made to enable such cases, if they are referred to local or regional offices, to be dealt with.