§ 33. Sir Thomas Cookasked the Minister of Pensions how many men totally disabled by the Great War have no disability pension; and how many of these are at St. David's Home?
The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Rams-botham)I am glad to have this opportunity of correcting a misunderstanding which appears to have given rise to this question. There is no ex-service man totally disabled as a result of his service in the Great War, whose claim to pension has been refused by my Department. I may add that full opportunity has always been afforded to any ex-service officer or man to put forward any claim he may consider he has against my Department, and every claim is fully investigated. There are present 15 disability pensioners in the home referred to who are under treatment at the expense of the Ministry.
§ Mr. SilvermanWhen the Minister says that there are no disabled men without a pension, does he mean that the Minister of Pensions, acting as judge in his own cases, has determined that there is no disability when a great many other people know that there is?