Major DAVIESasked the Pensions Minister whether a proportion of the cost for the medical treatment of soldiers who have been discharged from the Army as suffering from tuberculosis, and who were insured previous to their enlistment, is now being borne in Wales by the Welsh National Memorial Association and the contributing county councils, although 2031W these men were certified medically fit on their entrance into the Army, and must, therefore, have contracted the disease during the performance of their military duties; and, if so, whether he will take any steps to secure that the whole cost of the treatment of discharged soldiers shall henceforth be borne by the State?
§ Mr. HODGEThe responsibility for the treatment of discharged disabled men suffering from tuberculosis rests primarily with the Insurance Commissioners and Insurance Committees, under the provisions of the National Insurance Acts, and I have not been informed of the special arrangements made by the Commissioners in Wales. Provision has been made for assisting the Insurance Committeesto carry out their work by means of Grants-in-Aid, and, in addition, I have undertaken to meet the entire cost of treatment of advanced cases of the disease. I am also considering the question of providing, at the cost of the Ministry, treatment in other forms than those ordinarily provided under the Insurance Acts. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative.
Major DAVIESasked the Pensions Minister whether, as he has found it impossible to provide a Return of the number of men discharged from the Army in Wales and Monmouthshire who have received special medical treatment or training or the number who have been recommended for such treatment or training, he will take steps to add to his Department a statistical section which will enable him to supply this and similar information in future?
§ Mr. HODGEA section devoted to the preparation of records and statistics has already been provided, and full information as to the current work of local committees and of the Ministry is being kept; but, for the reasons I have given in reply to previous questions put by the hon. Member on the same point, it will not, I fear, be practicable to give all the information asked for as regards the past.