§ Captain BOWYERasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been called to the case of Mr. James Cox, 6th Battalion Worcester Regiment, Ministry of Pensions, reference No. M.J.D. 2,482, who was so severely wounded that he now carries two wires through his knee; whether he is aware that before the War this man worked at the Calvert brickworks at wages of £2 2s. a week, but that through his wound he has now been compelled to seek other less heavy work and goes about carting, and that his pension of 7s. 10d. was finally stopped on 7th June, 1921; and will he have this pension renewed in view of the fact that if this man had not been wounded he would now be drawing wages at the rate of about £5 5s. a week at the Calvert brickworks, whereas at the present time, with himself, his wife and child to provide for, his carting only affords him a precarious existence?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONIn this case disablement was assessed by a medical 631W board in April, 1920, at 1 per cent., and a final allowance was accordingly granted, the whole of which has now been paid. If the man's condition is considered to have since become substantially worse he should apply through his local committee with a view to the reconsideration of his case.
Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that James Ainsbury, 25, Wilson Street, Partick, has had his pension reduced from 100 per cent. to 15s. per week; that this man's record of service shows that he enlisted on the 8th July, 1870, in the 97th Foot, or Earl of Ulster's Own, now known as the Queen's Own Kent; that he served in the Zulu Kaffir war in 1878, the first Boer War, 1881, and the Soudan, and was discharged on the 28th March, 1890, with a service pension of 4d. per day; that he enlisted again on 28th May, 1915, although 62 years of age, and was accepted; that his number was 27,390, rank, private, 59th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps; that he was discharged on 23rd May, 1916, under paragraph 392 (XVI) with 100 per cent. pension, which he continued to draw until the beginning of May, 1921, when he was reduced to 15s. per week; that this man is not fit to be trusted on the street by himself, as his nerves are completely shattered; and whether he is prepared to have this case placed under review?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThere has been no award of pension at the 100 per cent. rate in this case, but there have been considerable periods of treatment during which full allowances were paid. The man was recently examined by a medical board, which assessed disablement at 70 per cent., and an award at that rate will be put into payment at once.