§ Mr. FORRESTasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the refusal of the Department to recognise the dementia of Private Richard Blaydon, No. 4/087111, Royal Army Service Corps, as in any way due to his military service; whether the appeal tribunal took into consideration his admitted acute suffering from rheumatism for which a disability allowance has been made to his wife; and whether there are any cases on record in his Department in which such contributory suffering is recognised as being responsible for dementia?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and to the third part in the negative. I have no reason to doubt that the full facts of the case were before the tribunal when they heard and rejected the claim.
Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Private James Roy, No. 325, Gordon Highlanders, was discharged owing to a gunshot wound in the left arm and neck, and was in receipt of a pension for his wife, his son, and himself of 17s. 3d. weekly; whether the pension was stopped on 24th March, 1920, and no further attention is being paid to the claims made on his behalf; whether he was examined by a doctor two months ago and recommended for a pension; and whether this pension will be paid, and if arrears also will be paid back to the stoppage of the pension on 24th March?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONI am afraid there has been unfortunate delay in this case into which I am having immediate enquiry made. I am glad to say, however, that the present position is met by the fact that the man commenced a course 581W of treatment on the 13th October, and is now in receipt of full allowances. Payment of arrears due between 30th March and 12th October has been authorised.
§ Mr. RONALD McNEILLasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Sergeant Robert B. Butcher, No. 598385, who, after serving in the South Lancashire Regiment in France, Gallipoli, and Mesopotamia, was transferred to a labour corps on return to England and discharged in March, 1920, was assessed at 50 per cent, disability for loss of his right eye and for deafness by a medical board in February, 1919, and granted a disability pension of 6s. 6d. per week for 12 months; that in June, 1919, Sergeant Butcher appealed against this award, and was directed to apply to the Local Pensions Committee; that the Local Pensions Committee thereupon laid the case before the Ministry, but received no reply for 10 months, when Butcher was granted a medical board; if he will explain the reason for this delay and for the fact that, in spite of numerous applications, no definite reply has yet been given in regard to Butcher's pension; and whether, in view of the fact that the inadequate pension awarded to Butcher in February, 1919, expired in February, 1920, he will now settle the case without further procrastination?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAn award of pension has now been made in this case and instructions given for payment. I very much regret the delay which has occurred.