HC Deb 19 October 1944 vol 403 cc2513-4
15. Mr. Driberg

asked the Minister of Pensions if men honourably discharged from the Forces with disabilities not attributable to war service are now entitled, in certain cases, to wear the King's Badge.

Sir W. Womersley

No, Sir. There have been no changes in the terms of qualification for the King's Badge since the Prime Minister's reply to the hon. and gallant Member for the Loughborough Division (Major Kimball) on 12th July.

Mr. Driberg

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that the chairman of a pensions appeal tribunal stated last week that the Minister now had this discretion in certain cases? Would he look into that, and also would he bear in mind that it is very desirable that he should have that discretion?

Sir W. Womersley

In that particular case the chairman was under a misappre- hension. What happens is this: If a man's entitlement to pension is established, whether he receives a pension or not, he receives a Badge. The reason he may not be in receipt of a pension is because the aggravation of his condition by service has passed away. That has been the custom all along, and the chairman was not aware of that.