§ 28. Mr. LECKIEasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Sidney W. Derry, an ex-service man in receipt of a disability pension, who, while undergoing treatment in Broadmoor institution, has had to suffer the loss of a considerable amount of his pension by the deduction thereof of 35s. per week instead of 19s. per week, the rate of maintenance fixed by Royal Warrant; and will he take steps to have the amount which has been withheld restored to the pensioner?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)Under the provisions of the Royal Warrant applicable to Mr. Derry's case, his pension was chargeable with the cost of his maintenance and treatment during his detention in Broadmoor at the rate fixed by the authorities concerned. A sum of over £70 was paid to Mr. Derry on his discharge from the institution, and nothing remains to be paid to him.
§ Mr. SMEDLEY CROOKEDoes not the right hon. and gallant Member realise that this case has been unjustly treated?
§ Major TRYONNo, Sir. I realise that this man has been treated with the utmost consideration; he has had most excellent treatment, and at the end of his time at this institution he received £70.
§ Mr. CROOKECan the Minister say why this man has been treated differently from any other, and every other, totally disabled ex-Service man?
§ Major TRYONThat is not the case. This man has been treated in strict conformity with the Royal Warrant, and the hon. Member has no grounds for assuming that he has been treated differently from any other disabled ex-Service man.
§ Mr. CROOKEDoes not the Royal Warrant say that a disabled ex-Service man should not be charged for treatment in an asylum?
§ Major TRYONAs the hon. Member is not aware of the contents of the Royal Warrant, I will send him a copy, or the relevant portions of it, to show that what we have done is correct.
§ Mr. MAXTONIs not this a criminal lunatic asylum, and is it the custom to charge a man for his maintenance in gaol?
§ Major TRYONI have nothing to do with the scale of charges, but this man was unhappily in this asylum, and we have treated him in the normal way and charged him the amount which we ourselves were charged, and at the expiration of his term there he received £70, which I hope will be a help to him.
§ Mr. MAXTONWill the Minister of Pensions find out whether it is the custom to charge for criminals who have been sent to a lunatic asylum by the police?