§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many men wounded on naval service have been discharged under Article 1932, King's Regulations, with a gratuity of 20s. only in lieu of all claims?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAMy hon. and gallant Friend appears to be under an entire misconception of the purpose of Article 1932. It does not apply to men wounded on naval service, but to men invalided for disabilities not in any way attributable to nor aggravated by the Service. I can find no trace of any case in which a gratuity of 20s. only has been granted to a man discharged under this Article who has received a wound in action or on duty. If my hon. and gallant Friend has knowledge of any such case, I should be very much obliged if he would bring it to my notice so that it may be investigated.
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§ Commander BELLAIRSalso asked on what basis do the Admiralty interpret Article 1932 of the King's Regulations in regard to the words dealing with a man who is materially able to contribute to his own support; and, if a man's wounds have incapacitated him from service and he is no longer able to earn as much as before his voluntary enlistment for the War, whether the Admiralty give no compensation to him if they think he can materially contribute on a lower scale to his own support?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe awards made under Article 1932 are applicable only to the cases of men invalided for disabilities not in any way attributable to, nor aggravated by, the Service. In cases of disability not attributable to, nor aggravated by, the Service, compensation is naturally not awarded in respect of disability but in respect of the man's service. When the service exceeds ten years (except for non-continuous service men, where fourteen years is required), a life pension is given; but for men of less service than that a gratuity or a temporary pension is awarded according to the man's ability to contribute to his own support, the less favourable award being confined to men whose earning capacity is reported by the medical authorities to be less than half impaired. Men discharged on account of wounds are granted compensation under the War Disablement Scale based on the Report of the Select Committee of this House or under Article 1931 of the King's Regulations if more to their advantage. In all such cases the effect of the wound, if permanent, is taken into account and an award made accordingly. In the case of a man who has sustained a wound which does not have any serious effect upon his earning capacity and is not the occasion of his discharge, compensation is granted on his being invalided for other causes or on discharge to long service pension, additionally to the award to which his service otherwise entitles him. My hon. and gallant Friend appears to have some case in his mind in which he considers the man has not been adequately compensated. If I am correct in my assumption, I shall be glad if he will give me particulars, and I will have the necessary inquiries made.