§ 25. Mr. Tinkerasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that 400 ex-service men in Manchester are now receiving public assistance because their pensions are insufficient for their maintenance; will he inquire how many similar cases there are in other parts of the country; and will he then consider reviewing the whole position of disabled ex-service men so that the whole cost of their maintenance will fall on his Department?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Ramsbotham)I would remind the hon. Member that compensation under the Royal Pension Warrants approved by Parliament is provided solely in accordance with the particular degree of disablement resulting from each man's war service. As such, disability pensions were not designed, and could not be used in all cases to provide full maintenance in conditions of need arising from unemployment or other causes.
§ Mr. TinkerDoes the hon. Member think it will be a good thing for recruiting that it should be known in £he country that this is the way ex-service men are being treated at the present time?
§ Mr. RamsbothamI do not think the hon. Member appreciated the last part of my answer:
As such, disability pensions were not designed, and could not be used in all cases to provide full maintenance in conditions of need arising from unemployment or other causes.
§ 26 Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Pensions (1) whether he is aware that Mr. S. F. Maskell, 36, Great Eastern Road, E.15, case No. A427,957 P.R.H.C., is unable to work owing to war injuries; and whether he will cause immediate investigations to be made;
(2) whether he will investigate the case of Henry Archard, 31, Waddington Road, E.15, pension No. 11/5, 276,881, registered No. 299,928, Labour Corps; whether he is aware this man was demobilised in March, 1919, and was granted a pension for chronic bronchitis of 10s. a week, subsequently increased to 28s.; and whether, as this man is now in Whipps Cross Hospital, he will make inquiries as to his position and the maintenance of his wife;
1618 (3) whether he is aware that W. A. Wickens, No. 11/M 462,970, 19, Roberts Road, Stratford, E.15, is still incapacitated from work as the result of shrapnel mobile in his body, and that the Ministry refuses to grant full allowances; and whether he will give immediate attention to this case?
§ Mr. RamsbothamAs in each case the question only appeared on the Order Paper on Saturday it has not been possible to obtain the particulars of the three cases referred to in time for answer to-day. I will, however, look into the cases and communicate with the hon. Member as early as possible.