§ Lieut.-Colonel ACLAND-TROYTEasked the Minister of Pensions whether, in the case of a man who has received a final award, the Ministry is prepared to allow his case to be re-opened if, on the recommendation of his local pensions committee, he is granted further treatment?
§ Major TRYONMedical treatment, with allowances if necessary, was expressly reserved to the pensioner under the scheme for final awards, and such treatment is available, if required, independently of any recommendation by the War Pensions Committee. The fact that treatment may be necessary is not, of course, in itself evidence that the final award was erroneous. But in any case where such treatment is given on account of a worsened condition, the medical officers of the Ministry are instructed to consider, if necessary, whether, having regard to all the circumstances of the case, the man's condition is such, even after treatment, that it must be held that the final award was erroneous on the ground that there was a serious underestimate of the man's permanent condition for purposes of assessment.
§ Colonel DAYasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is aware of the representations made by divers London local authorities, including the Metropolitan Borough Council of Southwark, urging the amendment of the War Pensions Act, 1921, so as to provide that the time limit imposed in the Royal Warrants should be entirely abolished for officers, men, women and their dependants and 2829W that officers and men should have the right of appealing to an independent tribunal in cases where the Ministry refuse to grant further compensation after a final allowance and where the claimant is able to produce medical evidence that the disability has reasserted itself or become worse; and will he state whether he is prepared to consider such Amendments at an early date?
§ Major TRYONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer which I gave to the right hon. Member for Deptford (Mr. Bowerman) on the 25th ultimo, in reply
— 1921–22. 1922–23. 1923–24. 1924–25 (approximate). Customs and Excise:— £ £ £ £ Receipts 323,627,554 280,024,976 268,021,266 235,294,000 Cost of Collection 6,327,943 4,612,917 4,324,987 4,340,000 Inland Revenue:— Receipts 521,274,000 482,099,000 435,441,000 439,066,000 Cost of Collection 8,941,650 7,252,388 6,715,376 6,920,000 Post Office (including Telegraph and Telephone Services):— Receipts 61,038,798 57,415,995 56,184,095 60,129,420 Cost of Collection 67,777,043 51,684,051 51,041,792 54,219,801 During these years there were great changes owing to the establishment of new Governments in Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State. The figures for 1924c25 are in all oases approximate only: the Post Office cost of collection in that year includes £1,799,843 on account of war bonus arrears.