§ Mr. Crowderasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why a war disability pension for a private or equivalent rank who has had a leg amputation with a stump measuring more than five inches below the knee is at the 50 per cent. rate for men disabled in the first world war but at the 40 per cent. rate for those injured in the second world war.
§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonThe assessments introduced after the recommendations of the Hancock Committee in 1947, a copy of whose report I recently sent to my hon. Friend, apply generally to pensioners of both wars, but pensioners of the first war keep the right to assessments in the 1914 War schedule where these are higher.
§ Mr. Crowderasked the Minister of Pensions and National Insurance why a private or equivalent rank who lost a leg just below mid-thigh receives the same rate of pension as a private in the Second World War whose amputation is three-and-a-half inches below the knee, in view of the fact that different types of artificial limbs are worn for amputations above and below the knee and of the importance of the retention of the knee joint in regard to walking ability.
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§ Lieut.-Commander MaydonThe reason why the same assessment of 60 per cent. is scheduled for amputations just below mil-thigh and up to 3½ inches below the knee is that such a short stump below the knee limits the ability to use the natural knee joint and take the weight on the stump. This is explained in paragraph 19 of the Hancock Committee Report of 1947.