HC Deb 03 February 1943 vol 386 cc903-4W
Mr. Malcolm Macmillan

asked the Minister of Pensions whether he will re-examine the case of Mr. R. Mackenzie, of whose claim particulars have been sent to him, in view of the two Ministry letters to the claimant, stating that his disability is neither attributable to military service prior to the present war, nor to recent war service and is not aggravated materially by it; and, in view of the fact that Mr. Mackenzie was classed A 1 oh joining the Regular Army and also on call-up as a reservist for this war, but is refused permanent staff status by the Post Office because he is discharged on medical grounds?

Sir W. Womersley

A review of this case confirms the decision, based on medical advice, that Mr. Mackenzie's disability has not been caused or adversely affected by his war service. The decision that it cannot be accepted as attributable to service prior to the war was given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for War. I shall be pleased to discuss this case with the hon. Member if he so desires.

Mr. Thorne

asked the Minister of Pensions whether a man in the Mercantile Marine or in the Royal Navy is entitled to a pension if he has to leave the service through no fault of his own; whether the widow of a merchant seaman is entitled to a pension whose husband lost his life going into action and if the widow is entitled to an extra pension because of the long service of her husband in the Mercantile Marine or in the Royal Navy?

Sir W. Womersley

A member of the Royal Navy may be granted a pension by my Department if he is invalided on account of a disability attributable to or materially aggravated by service. A member of the Merchant Navy may similarly be granted a pension if suffering from disablement attributable to a war injury or detention, as defined in the Pensions (Navy, Army, Air Force and Mercantile Marine) Act, 1939, or to a war risk injury as defined in the Pensions (Mercantile Marine) Act, 1942, and pension may be granted to the widow of a merchant seaman whose death is attributable to one of these causes. The pension payable to a widow of a member of either Service varies according to rank, but not to length of service.