1. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Pensions if he will take the necessary action to enable men who are suffering from wounds inflicted in the Great War to claim pension should the wound break down or reopen after the expiry of seven years from the termination of active service in the War?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Kirkcaldy (Mr. T. Kennedy) on the 11th February, 1926, in which I stated that in the case of an old wound which has broken down more than seven years after discharge, and requires surgical treatment, I had issued instructions that immediate steps should be taken to provide such treatment. The experience of the past year shows that such cases are, for the most part, restored by treatment, but if in any such case the man is found after treatment to be seriously incapacitated consideration is given to the making of an appropriate grant.
§ Mr. T. WILLIAMSIn a case where definite proof can be produced that examination did take place in 1916, 1917 or 1918, but that during the subsequent seven years no application for pension was made and the disability becomes more pronounced, will the right hon. Gentleman undertake to have the case dealt with, with the possibility of the man proving his case?
§ Major TRYONI shall be very happy to examine the particulars of such a case.
2. Mr. ROBINSONasked the Minister of Pensions if his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. A. E. George, of Radstock, near Bath, who was admitted to the Ministry of Pensions Hospital, Bath, on 24th September, 1926, for operative treatment in respect of shrapnel wound in the hand; and whether, seeing that Mr. George, though under treatment for a war injury, was refused treatment allowances for himself on the ground that the disability had not been accepted by the Ministry as due to war service, and that any claim to pension was barred under the statutory limit fixed by the War Pensions Act, 1921, it being more than seven years since the termination of his service in the Great War, he will have this case reconsidered?
§ Major TRYONThe first application in respect of the wound of the left hand was not made until more than seven years after discharge. The necessary treatment has, however, been provided and allowances for his family granted exceptionally, and paid in addition to the pension which he is receiving for another disability.