§ 18. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men invalided from the Service in 1925 and denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability appealed to the Admiralty against the original decision; and in how many cases was the decision modified?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the ADMIRALTY (Mr. Davidson)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on the 9th June on this subject [OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 1463] and to the reply given to the hon. and gallant Member for North Portsmouth on the 10th February last [OFFICIAL REPORT, Column 1030]. Particulars as to the number of men who appeal are not recorded.
§ 19. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty to what causes the Admiralty attributes the fact that 95 per cent. of those invalided from His Majesty's Navy are denied pensions on the ground of non-attributability, seeing that every one of these men has passed a severe test of physical fitness on entering the Service?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANA disability is not regarded as attributable to the Service when it is due to ordinary conditions of service such as might equally have arisen had the invalided rating been engaged in 391 a civilian occupation, or when it is due to conditions of health that are normally constitutional in origin. Every officer or man is subjected on entry to a thorough physical examination, but from time to time disabilities of an obscure or latent character are bound to escape detection. Moreover, the mere passage of time may produce a condition of health which, although it does not necessarily unfit a man for civil occupation, renders him unsuited to a fighting service where the highest state of physical fitness is required, and his invaliding then becomes necessary. I would remind the hon. Member that pensions are granted in non-attributable cases where the invalided man has a certain minimum period of service.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the right hon. Gentleman aware of the very strong feeling on this subject, and does he not consider that the fact that every sailor has to pass a very high standard of physical fitness ought to give him some ground for appeal in eases where he is invalided shortly after joining the Service?
§ Mr. BRIDGEMANHe has an appeal to the Board. The question is engaging my attention, and I would like to look into it a little further before giving a final reply.