§ Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Private T. P. Cahill, Royal Army Service Corps, No. S4/070,755, was 1310W medically classified on enlistment as an Al man; that in 1916, at St. Omer, he. sustained an injury in his arm, and, as a result, was re-classified B2 by a medical board at Havre in August, 1917; that he sustained an injury to his head on 28th December, 1917; that the authorities admit liability for the second injury, but repudiate the first; and that Private Cahill has been awarded a pension of 8s. 8d. per week for 52 weeks, 5s. 6d. for himself and 3s. 2d. for three children, his wife being excluded from benefit; and whether he will cause inquiry to be made with a view to an increase of pension in this case, and to the back-dating of the payments to the date of demobilisation?
§ Sir J. CRAIGI am not aware of the facts stated in the first two parts of the question. Private Cahill claimed on demobilisation to be suffering from an injury received during service to his left hand, and from an injury received during service to his head. The certifying medical officer assessed disablement at nil, and Private Cahill's claim to pension was therefore rejected. On appeal against this decision exhaustive enquiries were made regarding the accidents alleged to have caused the injuries. Partial verification having been obtained of the head injury Mr. Cahill was examined by a Medical Board, as a result of which he was awarded a final weekly allowance of 8s. 8d. for 52 weeks The date of the award has now been amended to 16th June, 1919, the day following the date of demobilisation. Despite the most careful enquiry, no corroboration whatever can be obtained of the alleged accident to Mr. Cahill's left hand, but it has been ascertained that he was medically treated for weakness of that hand prior to the War. In these circumstances the disability cannot be regarded as due to or aggravated by service, and a pension cannot, therefore, be awarded: but if Mr. Cahill is dissatisfied with this decision he has a right of appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal.