§ 34. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland the number of cases of blind persons' pension claims in 1932 in which the pension officer has appealed to the Scottish Department of Health against the decisions of the local pensions committees; and the number of with drawals resulting?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for SCOTLAND (Sir Godfrey Collins)In 1932 the number of appeals by pension officers to the Department of Health for Scotland against the decisions of local committees continuing blind pensions was 39. The Department disallowed the pensions in all these cases. As regards new claims the number of appeals received from pension officers in 1932 against the decisions of local pension committees to allow pensions was 59. In 30 of these cases the Department allowed a pension; in 26, pensions were disallowed; and three cases are still under consideration.
§ 35. Mr. BURNETTasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in all cases of blind persons' pension appeals in Scotland, an additional examination by surgeons other than the original medical board is arranged for?
§ Sir G. COLLINSIn all cases which come before the Department of Health on appeal where examination has been made at a blind clinic, the Department are furnished with detailed reports by the examining surgeons. These specialists are fully conversant with the standards adopted for the purposes of the Blind Persons Act, 1920, and their reports form the basis of the Department's decisions. If, in any case of special difficulty, further examination were thought desirable, arrangements would be made to have this done.
§ Mr. BURNETTIs it not the case that the Departmental Committee of 191V recommended that there should be an appeal to an assessor in any case where the justice of the certificate was questioned?
§ Sir G. COLLINSI am not aware of that fact, but I will make inquiries.