§ 39. Colonel Sir ARTHUR HOLBROOKasked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider the decision against the award of a pension to Mrs. Merry, of Vigo Road, Andover, the widow of a soldier who served in Salonika and there contracted malaria, for which he was treated both at Salonika and by the pensions tropical disease clinic, in co-operation with his own medical attendant, who holds the highest medical qualifications in medicine and who during the period of the war was in charge of malarial huts at Hawick; and whether, having regard to the divergence of opinion between the man's own medical attendant, who affirms that the man's death was occasioned by war service, and the Ministry's medical officers, he will, in view of the widow's present distress, grant her an award of pension from the date of her husband's death?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)The opinion of the medical officer referred to by my hon. and gallant Friend has already been carefully considered in this case, but the medical advisers of the Ministry are unable to depart from their judgment, based on the evidence as a whole, including the results of observation in hospital, that the pernicious anæmia of which Mr. Merry died was not connected with the malaria for which he was pensioned, or with his war service generally. The decision of the Ministry was confirmed lay the independent appeal tribunal to which Mrs. Merry, appealed against the rejection of her claim. In these circumstances my right hon. Friend regrets he can find no ground justifying further action in the case.
§ Sir A. HOLBROOKIs it not the case that the private medical officer called attention to the progress of anæmia during the man's attendance at hospital?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI do not think so. Anyhow, the independent appeals tribunal confirmed the decision of the Minister.