HC Deb 20 March 1919 vol 113 cc2273-4W
Captain HACKING

asked the Pensions Minister whether, in view of the fact that local war pensions committees have no power to assist demobilised disabled men with allowances or training until their disability is proved and pension awarded, which work is taking several weeks to carry out, and in view of the fact that hospitals are not so busy as during active operations, he will make the necessary arrangements for men about to be released from hospital and who are in an unfit state of health to work to be retained in hospital until they can be discharged as physically unfit, with pension, so that they may then be at once put on the treatment allowance if the medical referee advises, and also have training if not fit to follow their previous occupation, instead of having to draw unemployment pay on demobilisation, as they have to do at present, a system costly to the State and unfair to the soldier?

Sir L. WORTHINGTON-EVANS

My hon. and gallant Friend is apparently not aware of the whole of the arrangements made. If a disabled man is demobilised he receives Army pay for twenty-eight days, and during that time, if he is in need of medical treatment, he is entitled to treatment in a military hospital, and the local war pension committees assist him to obtain it. After the expiration of the twenty-eight days the local war pension committees, on application, will cause the man to be examined by a medical referee, and upon the medical referee's report treatment is given, if necessary, and advances are made pending the settlement of the pension.