§ 1. Sir ROBERT THOMASasked the Minister of Pensions if he can state the number of ex-soldiers who are permanently disabled mentally as a result of the War; what provision, if any, is made for them by the State; and is any State assistance given to voluntary organisations which provide them with care and treatment?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I am unable to give the figures asked for in the first part of the question, as many of the officers and men who are at present mentally disabled in greater or lesser degree as a result of their war service will, I hope, improve or even recover. In addition to the mental hospitals approved under the general lunacy laws, which I have been enabled to supplement by two special institutions for certain types of case, the Ministry provides treatment in a number of institutions for the various types of mental trouble short of certifiable insanity, or for cases discharged from certificate who may need further institutional care. The provision thus made has been found to be adequate for this class of case and the answer to the last part of the question is, therefore, in the negative.