§ 3. Mr. BASIL PETOasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in view of the many cases of hardship arising, he will consider granting appropriate allowances to all pensioners awarded treatment, on leaving hospital after treatment, until they go before the medical board and a decision in their case has been arrived at?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I should have no authority to grant allowances generally in the cases 1590 referred to under the terms of the Royal Warrant, but where, on discharge from an institution, a further period of treatment is found to be necessary which will entitle the pensioner to allowances, these are granted. At the same time, I would remind my hon. Friend that the personal allowance payable in respect of the man during a period of in-patient treatment (which is altogether independent of the allowances granted to his family) was calculated at a figure which would leave him a substantial balance on discharge from hospital. In many cases the balance is already so utilised, and I have at present under consideration arrangements by which in all cases a portion of the balance shall be available for the purpose for which it was intended.