HC Deb 30 November 1932 vol 272 cc812-5
42. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Pensions how many disabled men are receiving medical or hospital treatment at the present time; and, of this number, how many are in receipt of treatment allowances?

The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)

At the end of October there were 4,600 men in hospital or in receipt of some other form of medical or surgical treatment from the Ministry, apart from those in mental hospitals. I have not the precise information asked for in the last part of the question, but certainly the great majority of these men would be receiving allowances.

43. Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKE

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that in some cases disabled men needing treatment for their war disabilities hesitate to undergo such treatment because they are concerned as to how their families and dependants will live during their course of treatment; and will he take steps to ensure that in all cases where treatment is certified as necessary by the Ministry allowances are issued to the pensioner's family?

44. Mr. SALT

asked the Minister of Pensions what arrangements are made for the support of the families of disabled men during the time the pensioners are receiving treatment for their war disabilities?

46. Mr. POTTER

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that in many cases disabled men receiving treatment for their war disabilities have to apply to charitable funds for the maintenance of their wives and families; and will he take steps to see that adequate allowances are issued by the Government in cases of this description?

47. Mr. LIDDALL

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that dissatisfaction exists regarding the interpretation of the Treatment Allowances Regulations; and will he take steps to ensure that in all cases where a pensioner is ordered treatment for his war disability full allowances are issued in view of the fact that the man is 100 per cent. disabled during the period of treatment?

48. Captain STRICKLAND

asked the Minister of Pensions whether, having regard to the fact that unemployed pensioners who are ordered a course of treatment are thereby taken off the labour market and are prevented from obtaining any employment which might become available during that period, he will take steps to see that in such cases full treatment allowances are issued for the pensioner and his family?

49. Mr. MORGAN

asked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that treatment allowances have been refused to disabled men receiving treatment for their war disabilities on the ground that the pensioners are not normally workers; and will he take steps to ensure that disabled men who have been unable to obtain employment because of their disablement are not penalised thereby?

Major TRYON

Hon. Members are, I fear, under some misapprehension as to the nature of the allowances referred to. These allowances are provided by the Royal Warrants to meet the circumstances of cases in which the patient suffers loss of earnings in consequence of his treatment by having to give up temporarily a remunerative occupation on which he was dependent for the support of himself and his family. They thus represent compensation for loss of the wages or profits, if any, which would otherwise be received, and while consideration is always given to cases where a man is no more than temporarily unemployed at the date of commencement of the treatment, I should have no authority to adopt the suggestion that the special allowances should automatically be given in every case of hospital treatment, regardless of the facts of the case. I may add that there has been no change in the practice of the Ministry which has been maintained under successive Governments in regard to these allowances. I would remind hon. Members that during any period of incapacity for work, whether owing to war service disability or otherwise, disabled men normally receive sickness or disablement benefits under the National Health Insurance Acts in addition to their pensions.

Mr. BROCKLEBANK

Can my right hon. and gallant Friend say whether there has been any change in the practice of recent Governments?

Major TRYON

No, Sir. There has been no change in the practice of successive Governments. Indeed, my predecessor, Mr. Roberts, very rightly gave an answer as follows: The special allowances referred to are payable only where the patient has incurred loss by having to give up a remunerative occupation in gonsequence of the treatment. That was stated by Mr. Roberts after he had been nearly a year at the Ministry.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Will the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not now reconsider this matter, first of all from the point of view that health insurance in a large number of cases will stop, owing to the operation of the new Act? Secondly, is he aware that where formerly there would have been some test about a man being a long time out of work, now, owing to the depression and the almost hopelessness of large numbers getting a job, the test does not apply in the way that Parliament originally meant it, and will he not now therefore reconsider the whole question, in view of the fact that these men are long spells out of work through no fault of their own?

Major TRYON

I have very carefully considered this matter in the light of representations made by the British Legion, but I am not prepared to make any change in what has been done for many years by successive Governments. During hospital treatment the pensioner is maintained free at the cost of the Ministry. His pension goes to the benefit of the family, and in those cases where he is eligible, he also gets health benefit.

Mr. BUCHANAN

Is the right hon. and gallant Gentleman aware that in certain cases where men are out of work their wives work, and when a man is in hospital the woman has to leave her work, and as there is a tremendous loss there, will he not reconsider this matter?

Major TRYON

No, Sir. In cases like that the family would be relieved of the cost of the patient's maintenance.