§ 45. Sir Ian Fraserasked the Minister of Defence if he will arrange with the Service Ministers to retain in the Services and in uniform officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, who are still undergoing plastic and other more or less continuous treatment for severe wounds and mutilation, having regard, particularly, to the bad psychological effect of discharging these men before their treatment is completed.
§ The Minister of Defence (Mr. A. V. Alexander)Personnel suffering from disabilities attributable to or aggravated by service are at present retained in the Services, in uniform, until medical or surgical finality is reached, within an overriding time limit of 4- years. I am glad to say that in future, however, such men will not be discharged from the Services until their treatment is completed, provided that there is a prospect of this within a predictable time.
§ Sir I. FraserMay I take it that that means even if it is after 2½ years?
§ Mr. AlexanderWe shall not adhere to the 2½ year limit in future, but will keep men in the Service except in those cases where finality of the treatment is unpredictable.