§ 29. Mr. Edward Evansasked the Minister of Pensions how many men and women discharged from the services as suffering from schizophrenia have been refused pensions; how many have appealed and in how many cases the appeal has been successful.
§ Mr. BuchananI hope I may be forgiven, Mr. Speaker, if I make any mistakes in pronunciation. In the statistics maintained by my Department schizophrenia is grouped with other diseases of a psychotic nature. In addition appeals at the notification stage are not recorded by disease. The Statutory Tribunals have, however, determined 2,100 appeals against the rejection of pension under the broad heading of psychosis. Of these they have allowed 450.
§ Mr. EvansIs the Minister aware that the attitude of the Ministry towards this very distressing malady is causing a great deal of disquiet among the friends of these men? Will he try to adopt a much more sympathetic attitude than that which has been adopted in the past?
§ Mr. BuchananI can give an assurance that whatever sympathy and understanding are required in this very distressing class of case, we will do our best to meet the need.
§ Dr. SegalIs the Minister aware that in many cases the incidence of this disease is attributable to hereditary factors and that it cannot always be attributed to war service?
§ Mr. BuchananI hope that my hon. Friend will not press that too hard on me. There are enough persons against the war people already without the hon. Member entering into it.