HL Deb 28 November 1994 vol 559 cc478-80

3.3 p.m.

Lord Molloy asked Her Majesty's Government:

Whether they are consulting the Royal British Legion about the continuing care of servicemen and women wounded in the two world wars.

The Minister of State, Department of Social Security (Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish)

My Lords, as the Minister with special responsibility for war pensioners, I meet regularly with officers of the Royal British Legion and other ex-service organisations to discuss the needs of disabled ex-servicemen and women wounded in the two world wars and since.

Lord Molloy

My Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord for that encouraging reply. But is he aware, and does he recall, that quite a number of years ago wounded ex-servicemen and women, irrespective of whether they were wounded in the mind or in the body, were given preferential treatment in the NHS? That seemed the right thing to do at the time. It now appears that that priority, and the promise that was given, are dwindling away, and that the older ex-servicemen and women who now need treatment most of all are no longer entitled to that privilege.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Molloy, has raised a question that concerns us. I must correct the final point that he made. The ex-servicemen and women to whom he referred are still entitled to the priority treatment which was agreed all those years ago, whether it is given in hospital or through family health services and their GP or wherever. We realise that, with the passage of time and with new doctors and nurses entering the profession, that obligation may be forgotten. We frequently remind the professions of the situation by way of circular. Earlier this year my noble friend Lady Cumberlege and my noble and learned friend Lord Fraser of Carmyllie both sent circulars to the medical professions and the related professions in England, Wales and Scotland reminding them of this obligation. I am happy that the noble Lord has given me the opportunity to underline it here again today.

Lord Campbell of Croy

My Lords, can my noble friend give an estimate of the number of wounded from World War I who are still alive as distinct from World War I veterans who were not wounded but who now suffer from disabilities which arise from and are aggravated by old age? Both categories should, of course, receive the best of care. I should make clear that I was not myself wounded in World War I but in World War II.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

My Lords, I know of my noble friend Lord Campbell of Croy's interest in this matter. I looked into this matter when I visited the war pensions agency in Blackpool recently. I believe, from what I remember, that there are about 600 World War I disablement pensioners on our books, so to speak. However, I am afraid I cannot answer my noble friend's question as regards how many have come on the books in recent years due to their injuries which perhaps did not seem so serious when they were younger or middle-aged but which are proving to be a problem in old age. That is certainly a real problem both for World War I and World War II veterans.

Lord Richard

My Lords, will the Minister confirm that one of the concerns of the Royal British Legion in this area is the delay that is taking place before the issue of whether someone is entitled to a war pension comes before an independent tribunal? Can he confirm that that delay is now approximately 18 months? Can he tell us how many such cases are currently outstanding, and can he tell us the length of time being taken to settle each case? As he is the Minister who is personally responsible for this, we are grateful that he is in a position to answer.

Lord Mackay of Ardbrecknish

My Lords, I do not have a photographic memory and I am afraid that I do not carry those detailed statistics in my head. If the noble Lord wishes me to answer those questions, I am happy to do so if he tables specific Questions. I can then come armed with information. The whole question of studying an application for a war disablement pension is taken very seriously and it involves the records held by the MoD. It is quite a long business and we try to make it as short as possible, but consistent with giving the applicant the fairest treatment possible.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, may I on behalf of the War Widows Association—

Viscount Cranborne

My Lords, I think our 30 minutes are up.

Baroness Strange

My Lords, on behalf of the War Widows Association—

Noble Lords

Order!