§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Pensions what was the number of pensioners in receipt of treatment with allowances on 1st November, 1923, 1st November, 1924, and 1st November, 1925, respectively; and what was the number of men in receipt of treatment and training on the same dates and the number of pensioners who were on home treatment without allowances?
2535W
§ Major TRYONThe number of pensioners in receipt of medical treatment with allowances was:
33,019 on the 1st November, 1923;
30,519 on the 1st November, 1924; and
26,148 on the 1st November of the present year.
The number of men in receipt of treatment and training on the same dates was:
3,064 in 1923 and 1,313 in 1924.
Owing to the diminished need for further vocational training and the consequent closure of the centres during 1924 and the present year, only 12 men who are completing a course of instruction still remain in the centres. I regret that I have no information as to the last part of the question.
§ Mr. GROVESasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware that, under the Regulations of the Ministry, a man applying for treatment at an area or sub-office cannot be examined without the authority of a D.C.M.S., and that in consequence many men are without treatment or allowances for seven days or more after their application for treatment; and whether, in his efforts to introduce further economies in administration, he will take steps to ensure that any pensioner needing treatment for a disability due to war service shall receive a medical examination on the day he reports at the area office or his application is received in writing?
§ Major TRYONThese applications are ordinarily referred to the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services who is in charge of the medical arrangements in the area, in order that he may himself examine the applicant, or may refer him to the most suitable medical officer for the type of disability involved. While, however, this is the general rule, the instructions of the Ministry provide that in any case of urgency the, man may be sent to the nearest clinic or medical officer for immediate examination, without prior examination by the Deputy-Commissioner of Medical Services.