§ Mr. HANCOCKasked the Minister of Pensions whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Jonathan Compton, No. 326,370, who enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters on 15th March, 1915, received a gun-shot wound in the head whilst on active service in France, was discharged from the Army on 12th November, 1917, and granted an 80 per cent. pension, but died on 24th January, 1921; whether he is aware that the local doctor certifies that he was a healthy man before enlistment and that the military authorities accepted him as such; that the doctor further certifies that his death was due to diseases contracted during his period of service; and will he say why, under these circumstances, a full pension has been refused to the widow who is left with four young children and is living at 64, West Street, Greenhill Lane, Alfreton?
§ Mr. MACPHERSONThis man was invalided on account of a wound of the head, for which he was in receipt of pension up to the time of his death on the 24th January, 1921. Death was due to mitral disease and nephritis. After careful consideration of all the evidence, including the evidence of the late soldier's medical attendant, it was decided that the disease of which the man646W died was neither due to nor aggravated by his active service during the War, and that it was not connected with the severe wound on account of which he was invalided. The widow appealed to the Pensions Appeal Tribunal, who, however, upheld the view of the Ministry in regard to the case and disallowed the appeal. The decision of the Pensions Appeal Tribunal is by statute final, and it is regretted that no further action can be taken in regard to the case.