§ 27. Sir I. Fraserasked the Minister of Pensions what percentage of pensions claims arising during this war in respect of ex-Service men, women and widows, where there has been death or discharge from the Armed Forces owing to unfitness or disability, have been granted; what percentage have been refused; and, in the latter class, what proportion of cases have expressed dissatisfaction at the decision of the Ministry?
§ The Minister of Pensions (Sir Walter Womersley)An award of pension has been made in rather under one-half of the cases of men and women who at the time of discharge from the Forces claimed or implied that Service had played some part in the onset or progress of their disability. Nearly 90 per cent. of the claims from widows of men who have been killed or have died during Service have been accepted. It is not possible precisely to state the percentage of those refused pension who have expressed dissatisfaction, but of the cases where pension has initially 1430 been refused rather over one-third have made further representations. In some cases these representations have contained additional evidence which has enabled the claim to be accepted.
§ Sir I. FraserIs my right hon. Friend aware that during the period after the last war something like one-third of all the cases that had been rejected by the Ministry were subsequently admitted by independent appeal tribunals? Does it not follow that in the half that have now been refused there must be a substantial percentage of cases which should be reconsidered?
§ Sir W. WomersleyNo, I do not admit that at all. I am going to claim that I give far more personal attention to these cases than was given in the period mentioned by the hon. and gallant Member. As regards tribunals, I have said over and over again in this House that I want them as quickly as possible and that they will be set up as soon as it is possible to get the required personnel.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs the Minister not aware that there is now considerable disquiet all over the country because of the position of these men who were accepted as fit for service after passing a very gruelling medical examination and are now being left in the lurch without any pension at all, and are having to apply to public assistance for relief? Will he not reconsider the matter?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThe concession made by the Government in July, 1941, in the case of men who are passed into the Service A I that if there is a slight aggravation of their condition the Minister can regard that as material and give a pension, resulted in over 70 per cent. Of the men who had been rejected receiving pensions. Of the remainder, I have given most careful consideration to those cases, and I do not think many of them would succeed before a tribunal.
§ 28. Mr. Woodburnasked the Minister of Pensions how many soldiers discharged with psycho-neurosis, who entered the Army as A I, have been refused pensions on the ground that this was not due to war service; and whether he is prepared to reconsider this position?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI regret that the information asked for is not available. With regard to the second part of the 1431 Question, I am always prepared to review an individual case in the light of any fresh presentation.
§ Mr. WoodburnIs it not the case that there is a general feeling growing up in the country that the right hon. Gentleman's medical advisers give the benefit of the doubt against the person who has applied for the pension, and that in every case unless the individual claiming the pension can prove that the disability resulted from war service he cannot get a pension, whereas obviously many things might result from war service which cannot be proved? If the men are accepted as A 1, should they not get a pension?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI do not agree with the latter part of the hon. Member's Supplementary Question. It is not a question of our doctors asking men for proof; it is a question of our doctors going through the evidence carefully and making an examination of the man and ascertaining what is his disability and how it might have been brought about. I am satisfied that these cases do receive the most careful consideration.
§ Mr. ShinwellIs not this much more than merely a medical and technical question?
§ Mr. WoodburnIs not this term "psycho-neurosis" another name for what was called "shell-shock" in the last war, and how can it arise from any other cause than the war?
§ Sir W. WomersleyThere was such a term as the hon. Member mentions in the last war. They call it anxiety neurosis nowadays, and I know another name the sergeant-major has for that. [Interruption.] Hon. Members have not to deal with these cases; I have. I will send the hon. Member or any other hon. Member the findings of the committee of specialists presided over by Lord Horder on this question, and I am acting strictly on the advice given me by those specialists.
§ 29. Mr. Lipsonasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has drawn the attention of the Committee which he has appointed to consider the possibility of setting up pensions appeal tribunals, to the fact that 207 applications were received recently from doctors for nine posts under the Mines Department of the Ministry of Fuel and Power?
§ Sir W. WomersleyI will inform the Committee, although a careful review of many factors, including the present duties of the doctors in question, would be necessary before any reliable deduction could be drawn.
§ Mr. LipsonIn view of the strong demand that these pensions appeal tribunals should be set up, will the qualification and credentials of these doctors be carefully examined, to see how many can be made available for the purpose?
§ Sir W. WomersleyYes, I have received similar representations from other bodies, and I have given them very careful consideration. We are doing our best to get the right medical personnel for these tribunals.