Lieut-Commander HILTON YOUNGasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the ease of Mrs. Olive Henry, widow of the late Private James William Henry, No. 21103, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, of 50, Millers Lane, Norwich, who enlisted in September, 1916 and was discharged in February, 1919, as medically unfit with optic atrophy: whether on 3rd April, 1919, the Ministry of Pensions notified the local committee that this disability was attributable to his service and had been assessed at 100 per cent.; whether Private Henry died on 20th May, 1920, of general paralysis, and the local committee assessed and paid his widow's pension at the appropriate rate in view of his death having been attributable to his disability; 2104W whether that rate has now been reduced; and, if so, on what grounds, in view of the decisions of the Ministry and of the committee above referred to?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONAfter full consideration of this case the Medical Advisors of the Ministry found that the disease, tuberculous meningitis, which caused this soldier's death, commenced after discharge and was not connected with the optic atrophy for which he was pensioned. The widow was accordingly granted pension at the rate of 13s. 9d. a week under Article 17 of the Royal Warrant, and was informed, on the 9th October last, of her right to appeal to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal against the refusal of pension under Article 11 of the Warrant. No appeal has yet been received.