§ Mr. McENTEEasked the Minister of Pensions whether it has been brought to his notice that a large number of ex-service pensioners suffering from tuberculosis are now being compelled to enter Poor Law institutions as paupers, owing to the fact that their disease is considered to be too advanced for sanatorium treatment and no other institutional treatment is available; and whether he is taking any steps to provided institutional treatment free from Poor Law for such cases?
§ Major TRYONI have no information that the facts are as stated by the hon. Member, but I would remind him that the provision of treatment for tuberculosis is by Statute a matter for local health authorities, acting under the supervision of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health. I may say, however, that it is a standing arrangement that boards of guardians notify my Department of any case in which a disabled ex-service man is receiving treatment for his war disability in a Poor Law institution, and in such cases all possible steps are at once taken to secure the patients' removal to a suitable hospital.