§ Dr. HUNTERasked the Minister of Pensions whether he will arrange forthwith that no further medical boards shall be held on pensions (except on deterioration claims, errors of final awards, Article 9 claims, or setting aside cases), and that the present assessment, whether on a deterioration or current award basis, be made as current for the next three years?
§ Mr. F. O. ROBERTSThe number of cases in which further medical examination is requisite is now reduced to very small proportions. I have full sympathy with the hon. Member's desire that medical re-examination should be reduced to the minimum possible, and it is the practice of the Department to give prolonged awards wherever justifiable. But I have no power to authorise awards which are not covered by medical certification, or to refrain from awarding a permanent settlement in those cases which are suitable for it.