HC Deb 08 February 1955 vol 536 cc1720-3
26. Mr. Royle

asked the Secretary of State for War if, in view of the details submitted to him, he will reconsider the case of the child of Mr. Mealing, of Salford, who was treated as a patient, whilst on holiday, at B.M.H., Hamburg; and if he will remit the sum of £7 11s. 3d. which has been charged for the treatment.

Mr. Head

I regret that I am unable to meet the hon. Member's request, for reasons which my hon. Friend has already given in his letter of 27th January.

Mr. Royle

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this boy was sent to the military hospital by the British Consulate in Hamburg, and does it not seem utterly ridiculous that an English boy of six years of age, on holiday in Hamburg, cannot be treated free in a British military hospital in Hamburg, and that his father should be charged for that treatment? Will the right hon. Gentleman look into this matter again?

Mr. Head

If I were to concede to the hon. Gentleman's request, everybody on holiday abroad would have the right to free treatment—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why not?"]—in British military hospitals. All that I am telling the hon. Gentleman is that this is not a purely military matter. It is a question of whether or not the National Health Service ought to operate overseas for the free treatment of people from Britain. It has been decided that it should not so operate, and, therefore, I cannot make available a military hospital against a ruling that has already been given.

Mr. Royle

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether there was any contract between the War Office and the parents in regard to this treatment?

Mr. Head

There was no question of contract. The parents said that they particularly wanted the boy to go into a British hospital. When civilians are in that position and have no relationship with the Army we always try to help, and always in such cases we send in a bill. This bill, I think, was a very reasonable one.

Mr. Royle

I beg to give notice that I shall raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest opportunity.

40. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for War why Chelsea pensioners are treated on a different financial basis from other disabled persons; whether he is aware of the Chelsea pensioner living at Ely, Cardiff, who is regarded as 40 per cent. disabled and who receives 4s. a week for the maintenance of his wife and 3s. a week for the maintenance of his son; and whether he will place this man on the same financial basis as a war-disabled soldier.

Mr. Head

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to Mr. Hamm. Mr. Hamm's award amounts in all to 29s. a week and is the same as that which the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance would make for the same degree of disablement due to war service. Under the increases in disability pensions recently announced he will receive an extra 5s. a week.

Mr. Thomas

Is the Minister aware that when these men have a 40 per cent. disability allowance they are quite unable to work? Will he look again at the scale of the award, because the amounts which the right hon. Gentleman has read out are not sufficient to meet the needs of a family with children?

Mr. Head

It may be that Mr. Hamm has more than a 40 per cent. disability. As we have offered before, we shall be only too glad for him to have a further medical examination.

Mr. Simmons

Are these men entitled to the same supplementary allowance as pensioners under the Ministry of Pensions?

Mr. Head

The allowance they get is the same as the Ministry of Pensions gives for war disability.

Mr. Thomas

Why do not these men get their pensions, like other soldiers, from the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance?

Mr. Head

The result is the same but, by a long custom, it has been done through Chelsea. So far, I do not think there has been any cause for complaint. It is a long-standing system.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Has this something to do with Nell Gwyn?

42. Captain Kerby

asked the Secretary of State for War why he has not yet completed his inquiry into the circumstances preceding the death by drowning, on the night of 17th December, 1954, of 22549787 Sergeant M. Garrett, M.M.. Royal Sussex Regiment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Head

My hon. and gallant Friend will by now have received a letter from my hon. Friend on this subject. This case was a complicated one and called for a detailed investigation.

Captain Kerby

While thanking my right hon. Friend for that reply, may I ask whether he is aware that the late Sergeant Garrett's personal effects, including his Military Medal, have not yet been returned to his parents? Will my right hon. Friend please ensure that they are returned at the earliest possible moment?

Mr. Head

Yes, Sir. I will look into that matter.

53. Mr. G. Thomas

asked the Secretary of State for War whether he has now completed his inquiries into the case of 22562475 Trooper Smith, who was refused a travel voucher from London to Bovington Camp when he returned from Egypt; whether he has returned to Trooper Smith the cost of his travel; and whether he will make a statement.

Mr. Head

The hon. Member will by now have received the letter promised by my hon. Friend in his written reply of 1st February.

Mr. Thomas

While thanking the Minister for the very full letter which he has sent, and for the trouble which he has taken, may I ask him whether he is satisfied that the Army is doing the right thing when it brings these soldiers back from Egypt and, as in the case of Trooper Smith, directs them, with no English money at all in their possession, to make their own way to Dorset? Is he not satisfied that, in view of the fact that this man was still in the Army, it had an obligation to provide a warrant for his transport?

Mr. Head

The question of paying his fare to Dorset was dealt with in accordance with procedure, which is that if a man purchases his discharge he pays his own fare to Dorset.

Mr. Thomas

In a case where a boy has just returned from abroad and has no English money, ought not the Army to give him a warrant, even if it recovers the money from him afterwards?

Mr. Head

That is another point. If he had asked the Army to lend him some money, I dare say it would have done so.