§ Mr. RAFFANasked the Secretary to the Admiralty whether he is aware that James 2680W V. Harter, of 19, Ardwick Green, Manchester, has been discharged from the Navy as medically unfit, and refused all pension or gratuity; and will he say whether, when accepted for service in the Navy, he showed any trace of valvular heart disease from which he is now suffering; whether he has produced medical certificates to show that the disease is of recent origin and due to rheumatism; whether, under these circumstances, further investigation will be made as to whether his illness is either directly attributable to his naval service or accelerated by it; and, if such acceleration can be established, will the appropriate pension or gratuity be paid to him?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI am further investigating this case, and will write to my hon. Friend.
§ Sir J. D. REESasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the case of Private Samuel Betts, late l/7th Sherwood Foresters (Robin Hoods), who was discharged from the Army on 4th May, 1916, suffering from the effects of gas poisoning, has a wife and four young children, was awarded a pension of 12s. 6d. for himself with nothing for his children, which pension was reduced to 10s. on 13th August, 1916, and who has not been able to get any help from Chelsea Hospital; whether Private Betts has received all that is due to him; and, if so, seeing that what he has received is insufficient for a man with a family practically rendered unable to earn his own living as a result of injuries received on active service, will he take steps to have this man's case reconsidered?
§ Mr. FORSTERI am making inquiries into this ease, and will let my hon. Friend know the result.