§ 40. Mr. BELLAMYasked the Minister of Pensions, seeing that great hardship is inflicted on the families of men undergoing treatment in cases where allowances are not payable, several persons, women and children, having to live on a flat-rate pension of 8s. a week in some instances, and that a pensioner undergoing institutional treatment cannot accept or follow a remunerative employment, if he will authorise the payment of full treatment allowances in all cases of institutional treatment, whether the pensioner was in employment or not when admitted?
The PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY to the MINISTRY of PENSONS (Lieut.-Colonel Stanley)Special allowances during treatment are, as my right hon. Friend has more than once explained, payable only where the man has incurred loss by having to give up a remunerative 1757 occupation in consequence of the treatment. Allowances are nevertheless paid (both in the case of in-patient and other forms of treatment) where the man is proved to be ordinarily an earner, notwithstanding that he may have been temporarily out of employment at the time of commencing treatment. There would be no justification for the payment of these special allowances in cases where there is no evidence to indicate that, apart from the course of treatment, the men would be engaged in remunerative occupation and their ability to provide for themselves and their families is, therefore, not adversely affected by their treatment.
§ Mr. BELLAMYIs the right hon. Gentleman not aware that many of these men, owing to their economic circumstances, are unable to take advantage of hospital treatment, and that others are forced to leave, before the period of treatment is complete, because of their economic circumstances and, seeing that many of them are only in receipt of 8s. a week, does not the hon. and gallant Gentleman think it would be advisable to give treatment allowances?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYWe have no power to give it. We can only give it in cases where the man has been definitely taken away from a remunerative occupation to undergo treatment.
§ Mr. BELLAMYWill the hon. and gallant Gentleman indicate the regulation under which they have no authority to pay a treatment allowance in any case where a man is undergoing in-patient treatment?