§ Major COHENasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will have inquiries made into the case of Robert Elijah Daniels, of Braneaster Staithe, King's Lynn, late No. 6,839,696, acting corporal, King's Royal Rifle Corps, who was discharged on 9th January, 1923, after five years' service, suffering from malaria; if he is aware that pension has been refused by the Commissioners of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, on the grounds that Daniels is not suffering from malaria, although the man's medical attendant certified on 9th August this year that this man had been under his care on several occasions suffering from undoubted attacks of malarial fever; and, in view of the dissatisfaction which has been caused by the decision of his Department in this instance, will he consider instituting an appeal in cases of this description to an independent tribunal?
§ Mr. WALSHThis soldier was not invalided from the Army, but was discharged in consequence of reduction of establishment on 9th January, 1923. He afterwards claimed a disability pension in respect of malaria, stated to have been520W contracted in India, and was examined by a medical board in July, 1923. The medical board, from whose opinion the medical authorities at the War Office see no reason to differ, found that he was suffering from malaria, but that the degree of disablement was less than 20 per cent. This degree of disability is not sufficient for the grant of disability pensions to ex-soldiers, and no exception can be made in favour of Mr. Daniels. The question of establishing an independent tribunal to deal with appeals of this nature has been fully considered, but I am satisfied that the interests of the soldier are fully protected under the existing procedure.