§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Pensions why medical treatment has been refused to ex-service man H. Abbott, 51, Hotham Street, E.15, Reference No. 11/M/327,711?
§ Major TRYONThe Ministry are authorised to provide treatment only when the condition of disablement requiring treatment would not have been present but for the effects of war service. That is not the position in Mr. Abbott's case. On demobilisation he was found to be suffering from a small degree of rheumatism, which had only been slightly aggravated by war service, and he was granted a final weekly allowance in full settlement, this allowance being assessed, in accordance with the medical knowledge of the case, on the basis of a, purely temporary worsening of the ailment by war service. No appeal was made by the man against, this decision. That settlement was made nearly five years ago, and my medical advisers find it impossible to hold that any need for medical treatment at this date is in any way traceable to the effects of war service.