§ Mr. GLANVILLEasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Frederick Dimmock, No. G/53,164, of the Royal Fusiliers, who is a miner and joined up in 1916, when he was passed A 1, served in France till May, 1917, when he was sent home with trench feet to the hospital; that his toes were amputated on 15th August, 1919; that he has to return to hospital for an operation; that he is unable to walk owing to intense pain; that he has a wife and child and has no other means beyond his pension and the unemployment benefit, which will shortly end; that the medical reference recommended 80 per cent. pension; and that this has since been reduced to 8s. 3d. per week though he is quite unable to work for a living; what action he proposes to take in this case; and whether the man in question can come before a medical appeal board?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThe disabilities in this case are disorderly action of the heart (attributable to service); hammer toes—not trench feet—and varicose veins (both aggravated by service). The little toe of one foot has been amputated. Aggravation of the hammer toes having passed away, no pension for that disability can be awarded therefor. Disablement from the other disabilities was assessed at 30 per cent. by a medical appeal board in July, 1920, and a pension of 12s. a week will be in payment until the 19th July, 1921. Following that day, the rate will be reduced to 8s. a week, a recent survey board, held with a view to renewal of the award, having assessed disablement at 20 per cent. There is a right of appeal through the local war pensions committee to a medical appeal board against the assessment of 20 per cent. and to the pensions appeal tribunal330W against the decision that aggravation in the case, of the hammer toes has passed away.