§ Mr. W. SHAWasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that a disability pension of 50 percent, was awarded to Pte. N. G. Mates, No. 2,982, Connaught Rangers, of 33, Hardwick Street, Dublin, by a court pensions appeal tribunal, and that this pension was immediately reduced by a special medical board, to which this man was summoned; and if he will investigate this matter, which is directly opposed to the Royal Warrant which constitutes the appeal tribunal as the deciding factor where a pensioner disputes the assessment of his pension?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONMy hon. Friend appears to be under some misapprehension as regards the pensions appeal tribunals, which were established to decide questions of attributability and aggravation, and are not concerned with the assessment or award of pension. This particular case has been very fully and carefully considered by my Department, and the assessment of the degree of the pensioner's disablement, made by my medical advisers in 1919, was confirmed, on appeal, by a Medical Appeal Board which examined the man in August last.