§ 41. Mr. Stephen Swinglerasked the Minister of Pensions if he will grant an increase of pension to Mr. George Lovatt, 33, Albert Street, Silverdale, Staffordshire, about whom the hon. Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme wrote to the Parliamentary Secretary on 4th December, 1951.
The Minister of Pensions (Mr. Heath-coat Amory)As my Parliamentary Secretary told the hon. Member in a letter of 19th March, Mr. Lovatt's pension has been increased.
§ Mr. SwinglerI thank the Minister for the reply of his Department, but is he aware that this increase is far from satisfactory? Is he aware that this man's degree of disablement is about 80 per cent.? I appreciate that the amount attributable to war service is necessarily arbitrary, but will the Minister not reconsider this case in view of the very serious trouble which this man has had?
Mr. AmoryI agree that this is one of those very difficult cases where the complaint itself has got worse, but the degree of aggravation due to war service has, in the opinion of my doctors, not increased. I think the hon. Gentleman will agree that in this case I am bound to be guided by the advice of my doctors, although Mr. Lovatt has a right of appeal against my decision. If the hon. Gentleman cares to discuss this difficult case with me, I shall, of course, be delighted to do so.