§ Mr. DEVLINasked the Pensions Minister whether arrangements have been, made in Great Britain through the Insurance Commissioners for the treatment of men discharged from the forces suffering from impaired health due to war service; if so, on what date these arrangements came into operation; and whether similar arrangements have been made through the Irish Insurance Commissioners for the treatment of this class of discharged men resident in Ireland?
§ Sir J. CRAIGIn Great Britain all men, whether insured or not, who are invalided from the forces or certified on demobilisation to be impaired in health by reason of their service, are entitled to free medical benefit under the National Health Insurance Acts—that is, to the services of a general medical practitioner and the supply of medicines, except in the case of uninsured men whose total income exceeds £160 a year. There is no medical benefit under the Insurance Acts in Ireland, but by special arrangements with the Irish Insurance Commissioners, which came into force in October, 1918, provision similar to the above was extended to Ireland so far as invalided men are concerned, and the question of extending the arrangements to men in impaired health on demobilisation is at present under consideration.