§ Mr. G. BARKERasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that Sapper Richard Bourne, No. 121,852, Royal Engineers, at present residing at 7, High Street, Abercarn, Monmouthshire, en listed on 16th September, 1915, and his physical condition was marked good on his enlistment sheet; that this man was twice drafted to France for service during the War, and finally discharged through disordered action of the heart on a 20 per cent, disability pension; that this small pension has now been stopped; that he alleges he is totally unable to work owing to infirmity brought on by service in France; that he is in a state of great privation with a wife and three 2385W children depending upon him; and will he have his case re-opened with a view to restoring to him his full disability pension?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis man, who served for 11½ months, suffered from heart trouble prior to enlistment. Aggravation by service was, however, admitted and pension was in payment from 1916 to 1920 when aggravation was found to have passed away. An appeal against that decision is now under consideration by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal. I may add that when the man was examined by a Ministry Medical Appeal Board last January no appreciable disablement from disordered action of the heart could be found.
Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. J. H. Bibby, No. 13,943, late driver in the Royal Field Artillery, 1st Expeditionary Force, was invalided from France suffering from rheumatism; that this man appealed under Article 9 and went before a medical referee who certified that his disease was due to military service and assessed his disability at 20 per cent.; that this man went before a medical board and accepted treatment on inquiry if he would do so; that this decision was sent to Edinburgh for confirmation; that the medical authorities there decided against this decision although they had never seen this man; that Mr. Bibby was again taken ill in January, 1921, and lay in bed for four months, during which time no military doctor visited him, despite the fact that he appealed for treatment through the local war pensions office; that on three different occasions during the four months when he was confined to bed he received notice to appear before a medical board; the reason why no doctor was sent to examine this man during these four months, although word was sent by his own doctor to the Ministry that he was unable to attend the boards because of his confinement to bed; and whether he can see his way to re-open this case with a view to granting this man a pension together with arrears?
§ Major TRYONIn the short time available I have not been able to complete my inquiries into this case. I will communicate with my hon. Friend as soon as possible.