§ 44. Mr. George Hallasked the Secretary of State for War whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Mr. T. R. Sexton, formerly No. 2559577, signalman, Royal Signals, Territorial Army, who, in the course of manoeuvres, met with an accident which resulted in the loss of a leg; whether he is aware that this man has been awarded a disability pension of 50 per cent. only, amounting to 16s. 3d. per week; and whether, in view of the fact that the disablement pension of a member of the Territorial Forces who may be injured in peace-time is considerably less than the amount granted for the same injury sustained by a soldier on war service, and in view 959 also of the necessity for stimulating recruiting, he will take steps to remove this anomaly?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaMr. T. R. Sexton, who was invalided from the Territorial Army in 1936, is in receipt of a 50 per cent, disability pension assessed under the current pension code.
Mr. Ha1lWill the right hon. Gentleman consider the amount of the pension referred to in the question, which is inadequate for this disability, together with the general question of pensions to the Territorial ranks?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI shall be only too glad to ask my advisers to reconsider this case.
§ Mr. HallWill the right hon. Gentleman give this matter his personal attention, seeing that the pensions paid to the Territorial ranks are below those paid to Regular soldiers disabled in the Service, and seeing that there is a "drive" for recruits for the Territorial Army, will he see that adequate pensions are paid to those who may be disabled?
§ Mr. Hore-BelishaI have said that I shall be only too glad to reconsider the matter, and if the right hon. Gentleman has any suggestion to make with regard to the code generally, perhaps he will inform me.