§ 5. Mr. FREDERICK ROBERTSasked the Minister of Pensions whether medical officers of the Ministry have been instructed, when submitting their recommendations for assessment of pension, to take into consideration the extent to which climatic and other current conditions may be responsible for maintaining the level of disablement in individual cases; if so, whether this instruction is of recent date; and whether he will have copies furnished to Members on application or made available to them in the Library of the House?
§ Major TRYONNo, Sir. It has, however, been found desirable to summarise, for the convenience of medical officers, the principles of the Royal Warrants and previous instructions as to the assessment of disablement by War service with reference to any additional degree of incapacity that may be caused by other ailments or conditions unconnected with War service. With regard to the last part of the question, it is contrary to the long-standing practice of Public Departments—a practice which the right hon. Gentleman himself strongly reaffirmed when in office—to circulate generally in- 534 structions which may be issued from time to time for the guidance of technical officers.