§ Mr. Grovesasked the Minister of Pensions how many war-blinded men are now under the care of St. Dunstan's in Great Britain, in the Dominions or elsewhere, respectively; what is the total of pensions paid to officers and other ranks, respectively; how many are engaged in earning or contributing to their own livelihood; how many children dependent upon them are the subject of allowances from the Ministry of Pensions; and what is the expenditure by St. Dunstan's per head of blinded men in Great Britain, blinded men in the Dominions and children of such men?
981W
§ Sir W. WomersleySt. Dunstan's is not a Ministry institution, and I am not in a position to give information as to the number of war-blinded men under its care or its expenditure on such cases.
Pensions in respect of 100 per cent. eye affections are in payment to 67 officers and approximately 1,800 other ranks, the total annual payments amounting to £18,800 and £234,600 respectively. Four of the officers and To of the men are resident overseas. The award of pension in the majority of cases was made fraal many years ago, and the Ministry has no recent reports to show the employment position of the recipients.
The number of children for whom allowances are being paid could only be ascertained by a scrutiny of the cases, bat as 18 years have elapsed since the end of the Great War the number must be extremely small.
Cases in which blindness occurs as a belated result of war service still arise, but I am glad to say they are very few. Where necessary, training at the public expense is given at St. Dunstan's.