§ Mr. STEPHENasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that an applicant for increase of pension on the ground of deterioration is not granted a full medical board; under What regulation such claims are considered only by one medical officer; and if he will take steps to see that a full medical board is granted in each case and that the man's own medical adviser, who is fully conversant with the man's condition, is consulted before a decision is arrived at, so as to protect adequately the interests of the men concerned?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSMedical examination and certification may, under the terms of the Warrant, be carried out by one or more medical officers according to the circumstances of the case. The class of case to which my hon. Friend refers is one in which examination by an experienced medical officer is normally sufficient, though a specialist or another medical officer may be associated with him where necessary. Opportunity is given, especially where an applicant has been recently under the care of his private practitioner, to furnish any statement from such practitioner, and full consideration is always given to the statement, but it would not be practicable or necessary to adopt the practice suggested by my hon. Friend in every case.