§ Mr. BRACKENasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he will investigate the case of Leading-Telegraphist Charles Frederick Baker, J./28,301, who 741W was invalided from the Royal Navy, stated to be suffering from disseminated sclerosis, on 3rd October, 1928; whether he is aware that this man has since his discharge worked in handling heavy loads; that he has been certified by more than one doctor to be fit and strong and showing no sign of the disease mentioned; that owing to his discharge papers the Post Office refuse to consider him for employment; and whether he will consider the question of amending the man's discharge papers to enable him to pursue employment for which his training has made him suitable?
Sir B. EYRES MONSELLThe Admiralty are not aware on what employment ex-Leading Telegraphist Baker has been engaged since leaving the Service, but it is the case that in correspondence with the Admiralty he has forwarded medical evidence that there is no longer any sign of the disability for which he was invalided, and has also stated that he has been unable to obtain employment with the Post Office owing to his medical record. Particulars of disability of an invalided man are not recorded on his Service certificate, which is the document given to him on discharge, but on his medical history sheet, which remains in the possession of the Admiralty. As this sheet is the record of his medical history while in the Service, it obviously cannot be amended or continued in order to take account of developments subsequent to his discharge, but its contents are not divulged except with the written consent of the man himself.