§ 47. Mr. TAYLORasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that ex-Bombardier Harry Abell, No. 77860, of 73, Granville Street, Woodville, near Burton-on-Trent, who enlisted in the Royal Garrison Artillery on 12th December, 1915, and was awarded the Croix-de-Guerre, has been unable to follow his employment for two years and has been totally disabled for 12 months, and is now stone blind and permanently confined to bed through illness, although only 37 years of age; that Mr. Abell is a married man with two children depending on him and that his pension was stopped in April, 1922; whether he is aware that it is over two months since Abell was visited by a doctor sent by the Ministry of Pensions, yet a railway warrant has been issued to him from the Ministry of Pensions, Derby, instructing him to proceed from Burton-on-Trent to Queen Mary's Hospital, Roehampton, for admission on 2nd May; that Mr. Abell, being confined to bed and stone blind in consequence of his war service, is quite unable to travel either to London or to Burton-on-Trent without medical assistance; that a certificate has been forwarded by Abell's own doctor, Dr. May, of Woodville, near Burton-on-Trent, stating that Mr. Abell is unfit to travel; that several representations have been made to the Ministry of Pensions on behalf of this ex-service man, yet he is still in receipt of no war pension and is dependent on Poor Law relief; and what steps he proposes to take in the matter?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSIONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)The information at present before the Department does not justify special action with regard to this application, which was not made until more than seven years after Mr. Abell's demobilisation. My right hon. Friend undertook, however, to give further consideration to the case, as he informed the hon. Member, and for this purpose he gave instructions for a special medical examination. In view of the man's inability to travel to Roehampton it has been arranged to examine him at 31 his home, and the case will be immediately considered in the light of the report of this examination.
§ Mr. TAYLORCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman say why in a case where a man is stone blind and where evidence has been produced to the Ministry from his own doctor that the man is not in a fit state to travel, no proper arrangements were made for his conveyance from his home to the hospital?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYI have given the hon. Member all the information which we have at present. The difficulty is that the disability does not seem to be attributable to war service. As a matter of fact we have arranged that a medical man should go and see him.
§ Mr. TAYLORIs it not a fact that in this case the disability of blindness arises from a wound in the head, although the man has only been in receipt of a pension for a leg wound? Is it not also a fact that the Ministry knew from medical evidence submitted to them that the man was unfit to travel; that they sent a warrant conveying him from Burton-on-Trent to St. Pancras, whereas the man had to get from Woodville to Burton and from St. Pancras to Roehampton; that no arrangements were made by the Ministry to give this man proper attention during the time he was travelling, or to convey him from London to Roehampton; and is not this a rather callous incident in connection with pensions administration which ought to be inquired into in view of the fact that it has been raised on the Floor of this House several times?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYAs I have already said the evidence that we have got up to the present would not lead us to believe that the present disability is due to the War. There may be a doubt as to what it is due to, and that is why we are taking steps to have the man examined by a specialist. As to the other details mentioned by the hon. Member I have not gone into them, but if the hon. Member will give me correct information I am prepared to look into it.