§ Mr. D. GRENFELLasked the Minister of Pensions the number of disability cases originally held to be attributable to war service but which have since been certified as suffering from causes aggravated by such service; and whether he has received numerous complaints against this alteration?
§ Major TRYONI regret that complete figures are not readily available, but I can inform the hon. Member that the percentage of the total number of cases coming up for re-assessment of pension in which entitlement is changed from "attributable" to "aggravated" is very small. On the figures for the last six months, during which period some 300,000 men were re-examined, the percentage is something less than one per cent. I would also point out that in a considerable number of cases a previous decision of aggravation is changed, in the man's favour, to one of attributability. No change of entitlement is made unless, after the fullest medical consideration, it is determined that the original decision was erroneous; and in every case the man is1068W notified of his right of appeal against the decision to the independent Pensions Appeal Tribunal.