§ Mr. F. ROBERTSasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will reconsider the case of Mr. Charles Smith, of 23, Hamilton Street, Old Trafford, Manchester, who was discharged in 1917, after service overseas, with valvular disease of the heart, V.D.H., and given pension for this disability; whether he is aware that in June last a re-survey board altered the diagnosis to disordered action of the heart, D.A.H., and reduced the degree of disablement from 50 to 30 per cent.; that Mr. Smith appealed against this decision, and that as a result the pension was cancelled on 3rd January last; whether he is aware that medical opinion is frequently divided as to whether a man is suffering from V.D.H. or D.A.H., and at times his own medical officers have changed the diagnosis in respect of these disabilities twice within one month; and, seeing that it is probable that the boards who examined Mr. Smith during a period of more than four years were more correct in their diagnosis than the boards which examined in June and January last, as the man's own medical attendant says that Mr. Smith has V.D.H., will he in cases where medical opinions differ issue instructions that the ex-service men or pensioners shall have the benefit of the doubt?
§ Major TRYONThis man's heart condition, which was present on enlistment, was accepted as aggravated by his short period of service. Pension for that disability has, however, ceased as the effects of service are considered to have passed away, but an appeal to the tribunal against that decision is now under consideration. The change of diagnosis 2295W referred to was recommended by a medical board comprising a cardiologist, and was confirmed, after very full consideration, by my medical advisers.