HC Deb 26 June 1939 vol 349 cc33-4
67. Mr. Stephen

asked the Secretary of State for War whether all soldiers who lose an eye while on service in the Regular Army are discharged from further service, and what pension is allocated to such men; and whether there are any soldiers serving in the Regular Army at present who have lost the sight of one eye?

The Financial Secretary to the War Office (Sir Victor Warrender)

Soldiers who lose an eye are not necessarily discharged, but are brought before a medical board and dealt with in accordance with the circumstances of the particular case. I could not say without detailed inquiry how many such soldiers are now serving. A soldier who has lost an eye as the result of service is granted a disability pension on his discharge. For a private soldier, not entitled to service pension, the rate of pension for the loss of an eye would be 13s. a week.

Mr. Stephen

Can the Minister say whether in every case in which a soldier who has lost an eye is discharged he receives a pension?

Sir V. Warrender

If he has lost the eye as the result of an accident attributable to his service he certainly does.