§ 1. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that George Lister, late A. B. 55/3423, Royal Navy, Reference No. ll/N/21540, who has been detained for 12 years in Broadmoor Asylum, has applied for a pension for War service, and that this has been refused on the grounds that more than seven years have expired from date of discharge; and, seeing that a man in an asylum has not adequate means of keeping in touch with the regulations, that Lister's brother died from the effects of War service, but his relations have not been able to establish their claim, and the elderly parents, dependent on these two sons, are now penniless, whether, in view of his assurance that any case outside the seven years time limit would receive every consideration if sufficient medical evidence could be provided, he will reconsider the decision given in the case of George Lister?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)I am aware of the facts of this case. As, however, I have already informed the hon. and gallant Member, there is nothing in the information before me which would justify me in adopting the course suggested.
§ Lieut. Commander KENWORTHYHow can the right hon. and gallant Gentleman justify refusing a lunatic the right to appeal on the ground that he did not appeal within the seven years' limit?
§ Major TRYONThe man has made other communications to the Ministry, but one claim that he is making is that he is not insane.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYWould the right hon. and gallant Gentleman consider not preventing that claim on the ground that it is beyond the seven years' limit?
§ Major TRYONIt is not the seven years' limit alone that has debarred the claim. The man referred to murdered a seaman and was found guilty of murder and to be insane.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYBut has not the right hon. and gallant Gentleman informed me that the trouble is that the claim is beyond the seven years' limit, and now he says it has nothing to do with that?
§ Major TRYONI have answered also on the other ground, that there are no adequate reasons, apart from the seven years' limit altogether, to grant the claim.