§ 5. Major COHENasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is prepared to follow the example of the United States of America, which allows ex-service men suffering from tuberculosis, neuropsychosis, paralysis agitans, encephalitis lethargica, and amoebic dysentery to receive pension provided they can prove the service origin of such disability, irrespective of the date on which the claim is submitted?
§ Major TRYONIf, as I gather, ray hon. and gallant Friend is referring to the preferential terms given to the diseases specified by Section 200 of the World War Veterans Act, 1924, it is not correct to state that such preferential terms are accorded "irrespective of the date on which the claim is submitted." By the provisions of the Section these terms were only accorded to men who showed, prior to the 1st January, 1925, that they were suffering in an appreciable degree from these disabilities. I am not prepared to recommend that the provisions for War compensation adopted by this country should be modified on the lines suggested.
§ 6. Major COHENasked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that, although there is normally a seven years' time limit for the submission of claims for disablement pensions in Canada, that Dominion accepts any entry in the service or medical documents of the member of the forces showing the existence of an injury or disease as the date thereof for first claim for pension; that in South Africa there is no period fixed within which claims for disablement pensions must be submitted by ex-service officers and men; and that under a law passed on the 9th January, 1926, the time limit fixed for the submission of claims for War pensions in France has been extended 2179 from 4th September, 1924, to 31st December, 1928, he is prepared to reconsider the principle of the seven years' time limit for claims in this country?
§ Major TRYONIt is difficult, within the limits of an oral answer, to set out the comparative position as regards war pension provisions under British and foreign pension systems. I would point out, however, as regards Canada, that the time limits laid down by the Canadian Pensions Act of 1925 are generally narrower than those adopted in this country, and the provision referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend for the acceptance of claims beyond the normal time limits is, in fact, narrower than the conditions which I have indicated to the House as governing the grant of compensation which I have been enabled to make in cases of claim beyond the time limit. With regard to the French system, to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers, I would point out that he has omitted to notice that the extension referred to is contingent on the production of proof by the claimant that his disability is due to war service. This condition, which governs all claims made since September, 1924, is more restrictive than the British Warrants, and if applied would have ruled out many cases that have been admitted under the British system. Apart from the case of the Union of South Africa, my hon. and gallant Friend has conclusively shown that the principle of a time limit is being generally adhered to, and in these circumstances I am not prepared to recommend that that principle (coupled with the administrative provision for exceptional cases which I have been enabled to make) should be abolished from the pension system in this country.
§ Mr. SPENCERIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that in all quarters of the House there is a strong feeling that the seven years' limit presses unduly hardly in many cases and can he not give it reconsideration?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member is aware that there was a unanimous decision of the House in favour of the seven years' limit, which was maintained by the late Labour Government.
§ Mr. SPENCERBut has it not proved to be a rule which presses with undue severity upon a great many people, and is not that a fact which comes under the notice of all Members of this House?
§ Major TRYONI have already said that where exceptional cases arise, the Government are prepared to deal with them. I think we are working on the same lines as almost every country in the world.