§ 45. Mr. ELLIS SMITHasked the Prime Minister whether he will consider the appointment of a commission to review the position of all ex-service men who claim to be suffering from the effects of the last War, and to see that adequate payments be made while there is need?
§ The PRIME MINISTER (Mr. Baldwin)I have no evidence to indicate that any special inquiry is called for. I would remind the hon. Member that any claim by an ex-service man to be disabled by his War service can still be considered and, if it is ascertained to be well-founded, he will receive whatever compensation may be appropriate. Moreover, the statutory benefits of the various social services that provide for sickness, unemployment, and need, are available to ex-service men who also have many privileges of their own under these services.
§ Mr. SMITHIn view of the large amount of suffering among ex-service men, who have great difficulty in proving that it arises directly out of the War, will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation of representatives of all parties in the House who would lay this evidence before him?
§ The PRIME MINISTERPerhaps the hon. Member will be good enough to put that request forward in the usual way. I am not quite sure that I should be the right Minister.
§ Mr. GALLACHERIs the Prime Minister not aware that having to make a well-founded claim means that the benefit of the doubt goes against the ex-service man and not for him?
§ Mr. THURTLEIs the Prime Minister aware that there is still in force a seven-years' time limit, which makes it impossible for ex-service men who have not already applied for pensions to apply?