§ Major R. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Pensions if he will reconsider the case of Mr. James Filmer Day, No. 11/M/402,817, who is now unable to follow his employment through disabilities alleged to have been caused by war service?
Mr. ROBERTSThis man first made claim to pension in October, 1922, three and a half years after demobilisation. The case received full and careful consideration, but it was not found possible to accept his disability as either due to or aggravated by service.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that George M'Lease (1/MM/25,120), 85, Greenfield Street, Govan, was informed by the Ministry, Scottish regional headquarters, that he had been given a final award of 20 per cent. for life; whether he is aware that on the same form, dated 7th January, 1924, is stamped in red ink that the case has been considered for final award, but it has not been found practicable to make such an award, and in a letter dated 16th January, 1924, M'Lease is informed that the award is for 12 months; and whether he will clear up this contradiction, and enable this man to know the position he is in with relation to the pension awarded?
Mr. ROBERTSThe award notified on the 7th January was a pension of 20 per cent. for a further 52 weeks. I cannot find that a notification to a contrary effect has been issued, but if my hon. Friend will send me the form which he says contained such an intimation, I will have further inquiries made.
§ Mr. MACLEANasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that Myles McInnes, 1/MM/8,540, of 102, Crossloan Road, Govan, was awarded a permanent pension of 20 per cent. on 15th December, 1922, against which he appealed on 19th June, 1923; that as a result of that appeal McInnes was sent into Bellahouston hospital and his pension made conditional and raised to 30 per cent.; that this increase is made retrospective only to the date of the hearing of the appeal, and not to the date of entering the appeal; that the Pension Issue Office has forwarded 719W to the Post Office a draft book which runs for 13 weeks for 8s. only, and that McInnes has been told that this book must be finished before he gets his increased pension; and will he inquire into this case?
Mr. ROBERTSI have looked into the facts of this case, and having regard to the report of the medical board which examined the man in November, 1922, prior to the making of the final award, effect will be given to the assessment at the higher rate from the date of commencement of the final award. The necessary instructions for payment on this basis have been given. I may add that a general instruction dealing with this particular type of case has been approved and is on the point of issue.
§ Mr. C. EDWARDSasked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that the late Government promised that pensions awards made to disabled ex-service men during the present financial year should be made permanent, it is his intention to carry that out and thus remove from these permanently-disabled men the necessity of appearing before any further medical boards?
Mr. ROBERTSI am afraid my hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. I am not aware of any promise that all awards of pension should be made permanent this year. The Regulations for the making of final awards, which were issued over two years ago, provide that a final award shall be made in all cases in which the man's condition warrants that course. This scheme is at present in active operation and a large number of final awards of pension have already been made under it. I may add that where the case is not found suitable for a final award, instructions have recently been issued to make conditional awards for a year and until further instructions thus largely obviating frequent re-boarding.