§ Mr. GRUNDYasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the cases of men who have appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the Ministry's decision that aggravation has passed away, and are successful in their appeal, the men are re-boarded by medical officers who had previously expressed the opinion that aggravation had passed away; whether, if these officers adhere to their previous decision, no award is made and the men do not receive further compensation for an injury or disability declared by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal to be present as a result of war service; and whether, in view of the discontent that exists, he would make provision for an independent board comprising a representative of the Ministry of Health, a representative of 1315W the Ministry of Labour, and a representative of the Ministry of Pensions, to assess what compensation should be awarded to a man who, in the opinion of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, is suffering from the effects of war service though the Ministry declines to make an award?
§ Major TRYONThe hon. Member does not appear to be fully informed as to the practice of the Ministry in cases of the kind referred to. In the case of a successful appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against a Ministry decision that aggravation has passed away, it is not usually necessary to re-board the man before acting on the tribunal's decision, because in most cases the rate of pension previously current is simply restored. Re-boarding is only necessary in the few cases where the Ministry had been medically advised not only that aggravation had passed away, but that there was no disablement. In these cases it is the usual practice of the Ministry to refer the man to a different board from that which previously examined him. I am taking steps to arrange that reference to a different board shall be the invariable practice in these cases. I am not prepared to accept the suggestion in the last part of the question.
§ Mr. SHINWELLasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Mr. Douglas Gilchrist, of 54, East Main Street, Whit-burn, appealed against a final award of 20 per cent. to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, which appeal has been rejected; that the man has been examined by a doctor, who certifies him to be permanently unable to resume his work as a miner; that his former employers, William Dixon, Limited, who had given the man temporary employment, now state that he is unfit for any work in the mine; and whether, in view of the circumstances, he will reconsider the claim?
§ Major TRYONThe final award was made in accordance with the finding of a special medical board which comprised a surgical specialist. This board found 20 per cent, disablement from the disability of the right arm and none from the wound of the left hand. This award has been confirmed on appeal by the Pensions Appeal Tribunal and the man is therefore entitled to a 20 per cent. pension for life.
§ Mr. HAYDAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether applications under 1316W Article 9 of the Warrant are now rejected unless the applicant can produce evidence of continuous medical treatment since the date of his discharge or demobilisation: and, if so, whether he has considered the hardship that is likely to arise from a man's inability to produce certificates covering a long period?
§ Major TRYONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the nagative. While connection between the disability claimed and the man's military or naval service can obviously best be established by medical evidence covering the period between discharge and the date of the claim, full weight is always given to evidence of other kinds which is frequently found sufficient to establish a claim to pension.
§ Mr. GRUNDYasked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of pensioners in receipt of pension assessed at 40 per cent. and below and at over 40 per cent. but under 50 per cent., respectively?
§ Major TRYONThe approximate number of pensions in payment at the rate of 40 per cent. and under is 430,000. The number at 50 per cent. is about 60,000. There are about 300 assessments of 45 per cent. in payment but as regards these I would point out that assessments at percentages other than multiples of 10 are not made, except in certain cases of final awards.