HC Deb 24 January 1945 vol 407 cc814-5
42 and 43. Captain Prescott

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) whether pensions are paid to the native rank and file of the King's African Rifles who are discharged as unfit for service on account of war wounds; and, if so, at what rates;

(2) whether pensions are paid to natives recruited under the Compulsory Service Ordinance in East Africa for the Eastern African Military Labour Corps, Pioneer Corps and Signals, who have been discharged as unfit for service on account of war wounds; and, if so, at what rates.

Colonel Stanley

Disability awards are payable at common rates for all the units he has mentioned. For full details I refer him to the memorandum entitled "Colonial Troops (Pay, Allowances and Pensions)," a copy of which was sent to the House of Commons Library on 28th August, 1943.

Captain Prescott

Is it not a fact that the payments are in the form of a gratuity, and not by way of pension, and that, therefore, recipients who spend their gratuities have nothing of a permanent nature to compensate them for their war injuries?

Colonel Stanley

No, Sir, that is not the fact. Normally, they can get both disability pensions and disability gratuities. It is only where the degree of disablement is less than 20 per cent., that they are paid only gratuities.

Sir W. Wakefield

Will the right hon. Gentleman consider issuing or making a statement about plans for rehabilitation?

Colonel Stanley

That is rather a different question, and I should be glad if the hon. Member would put it down.