§ 46. Mr. Lewisasked the Minister of Pensions if he will now revise his method of recognition of disabilities for payment of pension to that of the principle of fit for service, fit for pension.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Pensions (Brigadier J. G. Smyth)As the hon. Member is aware, the claim for the adoption of such a principle has been considered by successive Governments who have been unable to accept it. My hon. Friend considers that the present requirement that there must be a causal connection between disablement and service is sound and he does not feel that any revision is warranted.
§ Mr. LewisWhile I appreciate the length of that reply, may I ask the Parliamentary Secretary if he is aware that hon. Members on both sides of the House, most of the people in the country, most of the Press and almost all ex-Service men agree that this is the only fair and proper way to deal with the question of 1064 disabled ex-Service men? Will the Minister look at this again to see if something further can be done?
§ Brigadier SmythI do not quite accept what the hon. Gentleman says on that point. It is fair to say that for some time the responsible ex-Service associations have not been pressing this point because it is generally accepted, and has been accepted since the change in the entitlement conditions in July, 1943, which put the onus of proof on the Minister and not on the claimant.