§ 4. Mr. W. BAKERasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. Thomas Winston, of 21, Russell Town Avenue, Redfield, Bristol, enlisted in the Somerset Light Infantry in August, 1914, and was passed A 1; that as a result of rigorous training he developed valvular disease of the heart and was discharged from his regiment in January, 1915, but subsequently undertook Home service with the Royal Army Medical Corps; that Mr. Winston was awarded a pension in 1919 for valvular disease of the heart, officially stated to have been caused by military service; that the pension was stopped in January, 1923; that Mr. Winston is now only able to undertake very light employment, and that he is subject to frequent heart attacks; and whether, seeing that Mr. Winston tries to keep at work because he has to support a wife and four children, whilst he is really unfit, he will take steps to reconsider this case?
§ Major TRYONThe decision of the Ministry in this case was that the malady from which Mr. Winston suffered was not attributable to war service, though it was temporarily worsened by it, and this decision was confirmed on appeal by the Independent Appeal Tribunal. No fresh evidence has, I fear, been submitted which would justify the adoption of the course suggested By the hon. Member.
§ Mr. BAKERIf the man's condition was worsened by war service, surely his present serious health condition is a matter for the Ministry?
§ Major TRYONThis man was not passed Al, as is stated in the question. There was no such classification at the time. The original service was for a short time at home and the final decision rests by law, not with the Ministry, but with the appeal tribunal, which decided against him.