§ Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Pensions if he is aware that the claim of John Whyte, 122, South Wellington Street., Glasgow, for consideration of a pension has been refused; that the man must wear surgical boots; that the calf of his left leg was blown off, he was rendered a cripple for life; and if, in view of 'the fact that he cannot follow his pre-War occupation, this claim will be reconsidered and a pension granted?
§ Major TRYONIn the case referred to, the man was discharged with a gunshot wound of the left leg. A final award was made at the end of 1922, against which an appeal was entered. The independent Appeal Tribunal, after a medical examination, slightly increased the award, but decided that the degree of disablement was of a minor character, to which an assessment of less than 20 per cent. was suitable. The description given by the hon. Member of the disablement in this case does not correspond with the medical evidence on the case derived from repeated medical examinations by medical officers of the Ministry. In the circumstances I regret that I see no grounds for reconsideration of the case.
§ Lieut.-Colonel FREMANTLEasked the Minister 'of Pensions whether, in the case of pensioner, reference No. 11/M/173229, ex-lance-corporal H. C. Osborn, No. 288642, Labour Corps, now of 63, Berkeley Crescent, New Barnet, whose pension in respect of himself, wife and four children on account of his disability, chronic dyspepsia, has recently been reduced from £1 2s. 8d. a week to 15s. 1d. a week, due account was taken of the fact that the pensioner was wounded in the stomach at Ypres in February, 1916; whether the pensioner's medical history papers for the whole period of his war service were available to the Ministry; and whether they were considered by the medical officers who dealt with the case in hospital and by the medical board who dismissed the pensioner's appeal against the reduction?
§ Major TRYONThe medical history sheets for the whole period of this man's service have been before the officers of the Ministry concerned with the handling2436W of his case. There is no record in them, nor any confirmation otherwise, of the statement that the pensioner was wounded in the manner suggested. The view of the medical officers, including specialists, who examined the man from time to time has consistently been that the condition of chronic dyspepsia from which the pensioner is suffering was improving.