Mr. T. WILSONasked the Pensions Minister whether he is aware that soldiers who have been undergoing treatment in a sanatorium suffering from pulmonary tuberculosis are, upon leaving the sanatorium, usually ordered by the medical referee attached to the local war pensions committee to undergo domiciliary treatment; that whilst a man was in a sanatorium he received his full disability pension, less 1s. per day, and his wife received separation allowance; that during the period of domiciliary treatment the separation allowance is stopped and the man has to be maintained at home on a reduced family income, which results in his being unable to obtain the nourishment necessary for a person suffering from this disease; whether there is any regulation for a soldier undergoing domiciliary treatment in these circumstances being entitled to a special diet allowance; if so, will he draw the attention of local war pension committees to it; and, if no such Regulation is in force, will he consider the advisability of making a Regulation to meet this class of case?
§ Sir J. CRAIGIn the circumstances stated, the man who is ordered home-treatment on leaving a sanatorium continues to receive disability pension at the highest rate if he is unable to Work, but his wife cannot be granted separation allowance. On the recommendation of the medical referee, he may also be supplied with extra nourishment, under conditions which have been notified to local committees in the Treatment Instructions issued by the Ministry.