§ 44. Mr. HORE - BELISHAasked the Secretary of State for Air how many men invalided from the Air Force in 1925, the cause of whose invaliding was considered not attributable to service, appealed to the War Office against the decision of the local surveying officers; and in how many instances wars the decision reversed as the result of such reinvestigation?
§ The UNDER-SECRETARY of STATE for AIR (Major Sir Philip Sassoon)There were 77 appeals to the Air 540 Ministry from airmen invalided in 1925 for disabilities not considered to be directly attributable to Air Force service, and in three cases the appeal was allowed. I may add that the findings of local invaliding boards are investigated in all cases by the medical authorities at the Air Ministry independently of any reinvestigation on appeal.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the hon. Baronet say if his Department is considering the setting up of a proper appeal tribunal at the Ministry for these cases?
§ Sir P. SASSOONThere is a proper appeal tribunal. Each case is investigated twice, first by a board and again by the medical authorities at the Air Ministry.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs the man allowed to be represented at the appeal?