§ 42. Mr. Stonehouseasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance what requests have been made to him by the British Limbless Ex-Servicemen's Association for improvements in payments to disabled ex-Service men; and what would be the cost of these concessions.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThis Association has been good enough to put to me 28 resolutions adopted at their annual conference. These relate, inter alia, to rates of war disability pension. On this, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement which I made on 2nd November. Perhaps he will be good enough to let me know on which of the other items he would like further information.
I am quite unable to state the cost of the Association's proposals as precise figures are not given, and they would in any event in large measure be subsumed in my recent proposals.
§ Mr. StonehouseIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that an important aspect of improvements in payments is that the disabled men should be paid at the correct rate? In view of that, will he arrange for a regular medical re-examination, say, every five years?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI do not share the view, which I think the hon. Gentleman has, that we should order an overall comprehensive medical review of the first war disabled. I am certain that some of them would resent it, and in other cases false hopes would be raised. But I fully share the hon. Gentleman's desire, for which we are working the 646 whole time, to secure that every man gets the full benefits to which he is entitled.
§ Dr. KingIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that B.L.E.S.M.A. is grateful to the Minister for his new award, for the breadth of detail in the application of the award and for the new features in it, but that B.L.E.S.M.A. still has a number of claims which it would wish to put to the Minister? Would he be willing to receive a deputation from an all-party committee and from B.L.E.S.M.A. on this matter?
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterYes, Sir.