§ Sir W. Smilesasked the Minister of Pensions if he will reintroduce the scheme which operated during the last war under which service personnel discharged from the Forces on ground of mental disorder remained the charge of the Ministry of Pensions.
§ Mr. Kirbyasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has considered a letter from the Lancashire Mental Hospital Board, dated 29th February, 1944, setting out their views in regard to ex-members of His Majesty's Forces suffering from mental illness who are being treated in rate-aided public mental hospitals as distinct from treatment under the Service patient scheme; and what is the nature of his reply.
§ Sir W. WomersleyMy Department already accepts liability in all cases in which the mental conditions is due to service. In other cases I am not satisfied that there is good reason for making any exception to the accepted principles of entitlement or to the general social service provision for mental disorders. I1886W have, however, agreed to receive a deputation on this subject and would be obliged if my hon. Friends would await an answer to their Questions until I have had time to consider the views put to me by the deputation.