§ 23. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the Board of Survey, in invaliding cases, interview and examine the officers and men in question, or confine their survey to medical history sheets?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMEvery patient brought forward for survey is interviewed by the members of the Board of Survey and, when necessary, examined by them. The survey is not confined to medical history sheets or documents, though these are always available for scrutiny by the surveying officers.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAIs it permissible for the applicant to be represented at the examination?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI am not absolutely certain, but I think so.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMHe can, of course, appeal to the Board of Admiralty.
§ 24. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many cases the Commander-in-Chief accepted the decision of the Board of Survey in invaliding cases in the last 12 months; and in how many cases he over-ruled the recommendations of the Board of Survey?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMSo far as I am aware, the Commanders-in-Chief have accepted the decisions of the Boards of Survey in all cases of invaliding during the last 12 months.
§ 25. Mr. HORE-BELISHAasked the First Lord of the Admiralty in how many cases in the last 12 months the Board of Admiralty have over-ruled the recommendations of the Board of Survey in invaliding cases; and in how many cases have they over-ruled the decision of the Commander-in-Chief?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI am afraid that the time available has not been sufficient for the compilation of the figures asked for by the hon. Member, which entails the scrutiny of a considerable number of individual invaliding papers. Perhaps the hon. Member will therefore repeat the question after the Recess.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACan the hon. and gallant Member say whether this question of the appeal tribunal is still under consideration?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI can answer that question in the affirmative.