HC Deb 20 January 1943 vol 386 cc190-1
20. Mr. John Dugdale

asked the Secretary of State for Air whether, in view of the great hardship suffered by Mr. S. H. Jones, of 122, Oldbury Road, West Bromwich, by reason of the fact that he has contracted the rare disease of myasthenia gravis while serving in the Royal Air Force, he will consider granting him a compassionate allowance?

The Secretary of State for Air (Sir Archibald Sinclair)

As the hon. Member is aware, the disability from which this ex-airman is suffering is not regarded as attributable to his service in the Royal Air Force, and I regret that there is no authority under which any form of allowance could be granted to him from Air Force Funds.

Mr. Dugdale

Could the right hon. Gentleman say how it is that one of the reasons given for not granting any allowance was the fact that this man was patriotic enough to join up before the war and that this disease was contracted before the war, because I understand that if it had been contracted later, he would have been eligible for an allowance?

Sir A. Sinclair

The only reason is that the disease is not attributable to his service.